Toronto is doing something that I argued for, with little effect, when on Council: a tax on billboards. From the Globe:
After days of heated debate, city council passed a sweeping new bylaw regulating billboards Monday, accompanied by a per sign tax expected to bring in close to $11-million once it’s fully implemented.
The new rules will restrict the required distance between billboards, as well as the type of electronic or animated signs permitted in certain parts of the city. …
The changes are a victory for community organizations that have lobbied for a billboard tax for years, arguing that those profiting off the city’s public space should give a little back. Their original desire to have the money earmarked for public art has been postponed until the city hashes out its budget in the coming months. Several councillors suggested dedicating several million dollars to public art initiatives while the city is struggling to deal with a $500-million budgetary hole wouldn’t be wise.
But Devon Ostrom, head of Beautiful City – one of the groups leading the billboard tax push – is confident the budget committee will come around.
“We’re one step towards to having arts properly funded in this city and we are a huge leap forward in proper enforcement of the city’s bylaws,” he said.
“Overall it’s a huge, thunderous victory for people who want to see a great city. …”
Great idea, and should be applied here as well, both to raise some money as well as to reduce the amount of them. I imagine they could not be imposed on certain billboards which do not fall under city juridisation.
Worst case scenario for TO – tax increases cost of renting billboard space -> hulking mass of a building overlooking Yonge-Dundas Square becomes devoid of advertising.
The credit is mainly due to Rami Tabello, the man who set up illegalsigns.ca.
He has, through freedom of information requests from the city, documented a long standing practice of the advertising industry of:
1) lying to the licensing department by the industry.
2) ignoring orders to remove illegal signs
3) paying the minimal fines as a course of business
4) city staff not understanding the bylaws they are paid to enfore.
Check out the web site. It is an amazing story.