Reasonableness, Satisfaction, and Willingness to Pay Property Taxes

Abstract

The authors explore whether citizen preferences for taxes are influenced by perceptions of the quality of government and government services. Waterford, Connecticut, was faced with a revenue crisis when the property taxes paid by a nuclear power facility in the town were significantly reduced after deregulation. On the basis of a survey of town residents, the authors find that citizens in Waterford were willing to act reasonably in response to fiscal problems. Furthermore, attitudes toward government and its services are important determinants of support for taxes.