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But what do Chicagoans get from their high property taxes that New Yorkers don't get with their low property taxes? Services seem about similar in both places to me(though, there is a huge swath I don't have experience with, like services for the poor or school services).

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The tax burden is similar (maybe slightly lower in NY), but collected through different means. NYC has a city income tax, Chicago doesn't.

If we're going to pick a means of collecting the same amount, encouraging good use of land and discouraging excess consumption seem like nice side effects.

I actually like the concept of a city income tax - you don't get to use all the resources for free just because you take a bus in from across a river.

I'm not sure that's how it works—at least in the case of NYC. The ~4% tax only applies to those with residence within the city's limits. If you live in Westchester however and work in Manhattan, you escape the 4% income tax (but instead pay higher property taxes).

https://tax.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/571/~/i-don...

Rich Aldermen.

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