Providence mayor wants to tax college students

[dbackjon]

The mayor of Providence wants to slap a $150-per-semester tax on the 25,000 full-time students at Brown University and three other private colleges in the city, saying they use resources and should help ease the burden on struggling taxpayers.

Mayor David Cicilline (sis-ah-LEEN-ee) said the fee would raise between $6 million and $8 million a year for the city, which is facing a $17 million deficit.

If enacted, it would apparently be the first time a U.S. city has directly taxed students just for being enrolled.

The proposal is still in its early stages. But it has riled some students, who say it would unfairly saddle them with the city's financial woes and overlook their volunteer work and other contributions, including money spent in restaurants, bars and stores.

"We want to support the city as best we can, but financially is not really what we can afford to give," said Heather Lee, president of the Brown Graduate Student Council. "We're more able to provide labor, we're more able to apply the things that we're learning in the classroom, than we are to write a $300 check."

Cities often look for revenue from universities to compensate for their tax-exempt status, and many schools already make voluntary payments to local governments. Providence's four private schools — Brown, Providence College, Johnson & Wales University and the Rhode Island School of Design — agreed in 2003 to pay the city nearly $50 million over 20 years.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090513/ap_ ... e_students

[AZGrizFan]

Providence's four private schools — Brown, Providence College, Johnson & Wales University and the Rhode Island School of Design — agreed in 2003 to pay the city nearly $50 million over 20 years.

This is where a slippery slope leads you. You agree to $50 million, they piss that away before they've even been paid it, they go back to the well.

Yep. We sure need more government.

[native]

MUST be a DONK! What an idiot!

[TwinTownBisonFan]

classic... the kids come to town, thousands of them... stimulating the local economy by shopping at local stores eating at restaurants, renting apartments...

they already pay sales taxes and property taxes (in rent paid, because no landlord in history has ever failed to pass it along to his tenants) and if they have a job (and most do... at least at public universities) they are paying payroll taxes too.

this is classic though... tax them, and then, if they are like fargo, schedule the elections for when the students are out of town.

giant middle finger to a large piece of their local economy. and a great way to ensure these kids skip town after graduation...

[UNHWildCats]

Wouldnt each student be using just as much resources as a person who rents an apartment in the city? The apartment renters arent paying property taxes... the only taxes they would be paying are sales taxes (if the city has one) and an income tax (if the city has one) the students would be paying the same taxes as those renting apartments...

If they need the cash so bad raise a city sales tax .5% if they dont already have one, implement a .5% sales tax.... im sure in a city that big it can come close to offsetting the $17 million shortfall they are facing and everyone is equally feeling the burden.

While I have no idea how much the city would bring in if you were to take a number say $300 million and calculate the .5% sales tax on that it totals $15 million.

Is $300 million to much to expect? I have no idea.... but that equals about $1,739 per resident of the city... Does that seem like a reasonable amount per person once taking out food and clothing under a certain price? Perhaps its too high... maybe you gotta do a full percent, but its still better then making college students foot the bill while people who rent apartments get off with nothing.

[clenz]

Yep this is a smart thing to do.


Take more money away from the already broke (ok, those going to these school probably aren't that broke) college kids and the generation that is going to be responsible for some really bad shit that has happened the last 10-15 years. Great idea you fucking moron.

[BlueHen86]

Yep this is a smart thing to do.


Take more money away from the already broke (ok, those going to these school probably aren't that broke) college kids and the generation that is going to be responsible for some really bad shit that has happened the last 10-15 years. Great idea you fucking moron.

I don't know about broke, but I'll bet many of those students have loans to pay for college. Now they are going to need a loan to pay their taxes as well.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

Yep this is a smart thing to do.


Take more money away from the already broke (ok, those going to these school probably aren't that broke) college kids and the generation that is going to be responsible for some really bad shit that has happened the last 10-15 years. Great idea you fucking moron.

I don't know about broke, but I'll bet many of those students have loans to pay for college. Now they are going to need a loan to pay their taxes as well.

it's a wonderful disincentive to go to college in Providence... look for declining enrollment... or, the schools to offer money to the city... shameful extortion attempt, or crass tax hike on nonresidents...

[clenz]

Yep this is a smart thing to do.


Take more money away from the already broke (ok, those going to these school probably aren't that broke) college kids and the generation that is going to be responsible for some really bad shit that has happened the last 10-15 years. Great idea you fucking moron.

I don't know about broke, but I'll bet many of those students have loans to pay for college. Now they are going to need a loan to pay their taxes as well.

Loans are going to kick tbh and my ass after graduation. I don't know what the student population background is a school like Brown. I'm assuming it is generally more well off than the average UNI student.

[BlueHen86]

I don't know about broke, but I'll bet many of those students have loans to pay for college. Now they are going to need a loan to pay their taxes as well.

it's a wonderful disincentive to go to college in Providence... look for declining enrollment... or, the schools to offer money to the city... shameful extortion attempt, or crass tax hike on nonresidents...

My kids aren't college age yet, but if they were I would discourage them from attending a Providence school if this were to pass.
If they were already attending a Providence school, I would discourage them from spending money in Providence when possible.