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States approval for new 'user pays' charges

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STATES OF JERSEY

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STATES APPROVAL FOR NEW "USER PAYS" CHARGES

Lodged au Greffe on 13th May 2003 by Senator S. Syvret

STATES GREFFE

PROPOSITION

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

th a t no new "user pays" charges be introduced by Committees of the States without any such charge

receiving prior in principle approval by the States Assembly.

SENATOR S. SYVRET

REPORT

We are faced with the possibility of a variety of new – so-called "user pays" – charges being introduced for services that have hitherto been funded through taxation. At present the proposed charge that has drawn most notice is the proposed sewerage charge. In answering questions in the States on 13th May, the President of the Environment and Public Services Committee, somewhat startlingly, refused to bring the proposed sewerage charge to the Assembly for approval. This is a charge beginning at an average of £80.00 per household and rising to an average of £300.00 per household. This is in effect a Stealth Tax that, moreover, does not take into account the ability to pay. It is quite bad enough that additional taxation, in the guise of so-called "user pays" charges should be placed upon the public; it adds insult to injury that such stealth taxes be introduced without specific States approval. It is preposterous that such taxation without representation could even be contemplated.

This proposal will require that all such new "user pays" charges shall not be introduced without specific States approval.

There are no financial or manpower implications for the States other than work required to prepare the requisite reports and propositions.