Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a "fiscal" system?
A fiscal system is the system set up by a government to collect money and either spend it on public services or send it to other governments for them to spend on public services. A government’s fiscal system includes its tax system, but also includes other types of revenue collection, and all types of spending.
Why not just refer to tax systems?
First, sometimes fees or other charges look a lot like taxes. In fact, sometimes they are taxes in disguise because politicians don’t want to own up to raising taxes. “Tax and fiscal” covers them all, and will allow STAFS to engage in “keeping ‘em honest,” to steal a phrase from CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360
Second, higher level governments often send money to lower level governments – state to school, county, city, township or special district, or federal to state or any of the local governments. Such intergovernmental aid programs are part of the “fiscal,” and important because the way they operate can either encourage or discourage effective governmental operations.
Third, including all types of government charges is necessary to accurately see the full cost of governments – the price of government – and focus governmental leaders on getting all the value that can be gotten from the total price of government, and away from playing games to “cut taxes” by increasing fees, other charges or taxes levied by lower level governments
Second, higher level governments often send money to lower level governments – state to school, county, city, township or special district, or federal to state or any of the local governments. Such intergovernmental aid programs are part of the “fiscal,” and important because the way they operate can either encourage or discourage effective governmental operations.
Third, including all types of government charges is necessary to accurately see the full cost of governments – the price of government – and focus governmental leaders on getting all the value that can be gotten from the total price of government, and away from playing games to “cut taxes” by increasing fees, other charges or taxes levied by lower level governments
What does “design ways to improve existing tax and fiscal systems” mean?
It means STAFS’ staff, or consultants engaged for this purpose, will create specific proposals, most but perhaps not all involving legislation, for improving the performance of specific tax and fiscal systems as judged by the Tax System Evaluative Criteria. The extent of this work will depend upon STAFS’ success in raising funds to support it. The work will begin with design ideas developed by STAFS President, John P. James, over the past quarter century.
What does “look for ways to improve existing tax and fiscal systems” mean?
It means STAFS’ staff will look for, find and either incorporate on this website or provide links to tax and fiscal system improvement ideas of others, and provide comments on such ideas based on whether they likely would improve or worsen the performance of specific tax and fiscal systems as judged by the Tax System Evaluative Criteria. The extent of this work will depend upon STAFS’ success in raising funds to support it.
How and to whom will STAFS make available ideas for improving tax and fiscal systems?
STAFS will make ideas available free of charge to whoever can find the STAFS website. Interest in specific design proposals will be solicited through phone calls and e-mails to potentially interested opinion leaders, with the intent that where to find the proposals will spread virally. If funding materializes, STAFS may expand its idea distribution efforts.
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