“[A]lthough local government administers or oversees most of the ‘good government of the state’ — a concept we would today describe as ‘core functions’ such as policing, street lighting and refuse collection, and the protection offered by land registration, the legal system and planning controls — and thus contributes to a large extent to non-agricultural land values, local authority finance and property taxation remain very contentious issues. As it happens, however, the various taxes that relate to property ownership or occupation and wealth generally (Council Tax, Business Rates, Stamp Duty, Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, the TV licence fee and Insurance Premium Tax) raised around £70 billion in the fiscal year 2007-08, approximately the same as the cost of those same core functions. There is a clear case for simplification and rationalization here.” (01/14/09)