The RTE needs money from the public each year to run. But
- Direct funding by the government gives the government too much influence over content.
- Funding from the licence fee is not secure because many people don’t want to pay, since they discovered all the money-laundering and theft going on in RTE.
- Advertising does not make the RTE enough money.
The funding model should also give the RTE an incentive to behave better in the future. It must be a source that can shrink in proportion to RTE’s continuing misbehaviour.
The best way is to add a an extra charge to everyone’s annual income tax bill. It could be 50€ per taxpayer, to replace the existing 160€ per household. People who don’t pay tax don’t pay the charge. So this is more progressive than the TV licence fee was.
On the tax declaration form, there is a multiple choice. The taxpayer can choose whether his fee should go to the RTE or somewhere else more deserving. If he ticks several boxes, the fee will be split between several beneficiaries. The choices could be, for example
- RTE
- Medicins sans frontieres
- Vincent de Paul
- A subsidy for theatre companies
- Funding for artists and musicians
- A fund for free open-source software developers
For the last two, figuring out a way to fairly distribute the money could be tricky, but still worthwhile.
There will also be an option to increase the payment to the chosen cause, to 100€ or 200€.
I think this is definitely an interesting proposal and I especially like the idea of the money going where you feel it is needed or deserved.
The main concern I’d have is how many people would actually fill this out and how/if they’ll change their choices.
Will people be forced to fill it in every year?
Will they fill it in at all?
Will there be a default selection? Like all to RTÉ, or maybe an even split between all options?
If people don’t have to make a selection every year, will they just choose once and never update or change it because it’s a hassle?
Thanks, internet stranger. I’m glad to hear that you think this has some value.
All the details are up for debate and possible improvement. But in this first draft of the idea:
Will people be forced to fill it in every year?
Only if they want to decide where their money goes.
Will they fill it in at all?
If they don’t fill it in, the fee goes to the RTE.
Will there be a default selection? Like all to RTÉ, or maybe an even split between all options?
All to RTE.
If people don’t have to make a selection every year, will they just choose once and never update or change it because it’s a hassle?
That’s a good idea. You could have an option to inform the revenue of your preference just once, and it will be recorded forever, or until you change it. That way, people don’t have to fill out a tax return every year.