Land value tax

Sat., Dec. 2, 2017

Your Nov. 12 editorial expressed frustration that there is no viable tax available since vehicles are using less or no gasoline and the fuel taxes are not sufficient to fund the maintenance of the roads. Not so.

In “Progress and Poverty,” Henry George makes the argument that the value of the land is caused by increases in population growth and the installation and maintenance of roads, utilities and other works paid for by the public. This is a social value, and society should be the beneficiary, not the landholder. Therefore, society should benefit by charging the landholder a land value tax, often called single tax, thus preventing private interests from profiting upon its mere possession, but allowing the value of all improvements made to remain with investors.

Joseph Henry Wythe

Sandpoint

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