Review of A Tale of Two Taxes: Property Tax Reform in Ontario

A Tale of Two Taxes: Property Tax Reform in Ontario
By Richard M. Bird, Enid Slack, Almos Tassonyi
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
By Jody E. Johnson, Aird & Berlis LLP
     A Tale of Two Taxes is one of the most important books that I read in 2012. The authors crafted a book that takes the history of property taxation system in Ontario, an often complicated and dry subject, and turned it into a very digestible must-read. The authors effectively use a
combination of facts, charts, numbers and narrative to present both a history of the property tax system and a compelling argument for why everyone should care about it. Bird, Slack and Tassonyi clearly have in-depth knowledge of the subject area. When authors have such an intimate depth of understanding of a subject area, there is a risk that the resultant works presume the readers have the same level of understanding and fundamental building blocks are overlooked or glossed-over – not the case with this book. On the other hand, the authors appear to assume a level of intelligence in their readers and write in a style that has the feel of inviting dialogue, particularly the last chapter, where proposals for reform are offered, seemingly for discussion. The authors also do an excellent job of outlining the role and position of
property taxes in relation to other types of taxes and revenue sources. Chapter 7 contains a concise and well written overview of several interrelated financial tools; it is unfortunate there is not more analysis of what reforms would make sense in regard to this broader suite of revenue sources, however, I recognize that is outside the direct scope of the book.
     Everyone who works for or with municipalities should read this book. Everyone involved in crafting local government finance and tax policy needs to understand where we have been, what the changes have been (and why) and where we are going to be able to consider the options and potential ramifications of policy options. I recommend this book not just to municipal finance staff and those working in municipal tax policy at the provincial level – I recommend this book to municipal elected officials, those who study local government policy, lawyers
who practice in the areas of municipal finance and property tax and assessment and even property owners interested in the “how” and “why” of the property tax system in Ontario.

Jody E. Johnson is a lawyer at Aird & Berlis (Toronto) who specializes in municipal law and land use planning. She is the Immediate
Past President of Western University’s Local Government Program Alumni Society.

A Tale of Two Taxes: Property Tax Reform in Ontario
By Richard M. Bird, Enid Slack & Almos Tassonyi
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Softcover, $30, 288 pages
ISBN 9781558442252
www.lincolninst.edu