City Council members propose $25 fee for garage sales in Dallas

[The Northerner]

Two Dallas City Council members have proposed charging a $25 fee next year to anyone who wants to have a garage sale in city limits.

City managers have floated the idea of charging $5, as a way to help balance next year's tough budget.

Council members Delia Jasso and Dwaine Caraway upped the ante today in a memo to City Manager Mary Suhm.

"We recommend the fee should be $25," the memo said.

Jasso and Caraway estimate the fee could bring in $500,000 next year, and they recommend the money go toward senior dental services, cultural affairs programs, graffiti removal and animal services.

I'm not sure how they estimated the $500,000, but I think one relevant question is: will the number of garage sales go down significantly if a $25 fee is attached? Will that decrease the revenue estimate?

What do you think?

Source: http://cityhallblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/09/post-11.html

[dkf]

1. Sad.

[Cronus Protagonist]

2. More regressive taxes

They should tax the sales of motor homes, boats and Mercedes before they even think if doing this!

[davidinalameda]

4. plenty of middle class peope own boats and motor homes

and even Mercedes

[DBoon]

10. many people in much worse shape have garage sales

this epitomizes regressive taxation

[davidinalameda]

14. you're exactly right

this is a horrible idea

[Cronus Protagonist]

15. Cool, then THESE middle class folk can pay a regressive tax

Not a problem if they can afford these luxury items. The nomenclature is unimportant.

[RKP5637]

5. Oh, can't touch those items, they're special, people might not buy them. Can't PO

those buying luxury items.

[davidinalameda]

3. you're going to waste more money going to around to make sure people have

their permits

bad BAD idea

[Cronus Protagonist]

16. Cool. A job for someone!

:evilgrin:

[Hannah Bell]

21. +100. idiotic, regressive, punitive. tax the rich; there are plenty of superrich around dallas.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. Yard sales will become back alley sales.

[Art_from_Ark]

7. I think $25 is the most I ever made with a garage sale

[EFerrari]

9. I was going to say, that's pretty high for most garage sales.

:)

[LiberalFighter]

8. How many will consolidate their garage sales?

[rucky]

11. Protection Money?

:wtf:

[ToppleTheTeaParty]

12. Boneheaded move

What are they going to do, have the police driving around looking for non-paid permits & arrest people or shut the G.S. down? STUPID!!

[csziggy]

13. I wonder how much this will increase the amount of stuff going to the landfill?

And for many the solution will be Craigslist. People could even set the day for everyone who was interested in their items to come to pick them up - but it would not be a garage sale, just organized selling through internet listings.

[county worker]

17. I see some people with garage sales every weekend. They are trying to supplement their income.

They go to other garage sales and swap meets and pick up items to resale. I think that in this economy those people should not have to pay a fee to make the extra money they need to live on.

Also, something in me says that a city council should not be able to put fees on certain endeavors just because they want to raise money.

[earth mom]

18. They are gunning for anyone who has the audacity to start their own cottage industry

business or who simply try and make a few bucks to pay the electric bill.

How long before they ask for a percentage of sales or else?

:grr:

[Liberal_in_LA]

19. WHAT!

[End Of The Road]

20. It would cost Dallas too much to enforce this! Stoopid idea. nt