Reform Jersey, the Island’s only political party, unveiled plans last week to raise an additional £6 million by taxing the Island’s top earners more. This, they say, would allow the States to pay for the students to attend university.
The Jersey Student Loans Support Group said they would welcome changes that would allow students to attend university based on ability rather than family income.
Under the proposals from Reform Jersey, the current tax system would be overhauled by scrapping the ‘standard’ tax rate and putting everyone on a tax rate of 25 per cent. Deputy Sam Mézec, chairman of the party, said that with exemption thresholds and tax reliefs the plans would ultimately lead to a decrease or no change in the amount of tax paid for 90 per cent of Islanders.
Nicola Heath, a member of the group, said: ‘The recent suggestion by Reform Jersey to alter the tax system and vary the rate of marginal relief would, if implemented, provide additional tax revenues, and if that revenue was to be invested in a sustainable higher education system that provides equal access to higher education to Jersey students based on ability rather than income, then it is a development we welcome.
‘Whether this additional tax revenue is invested in direct assistance or as a way to fund a loans scheme is a matter for States Members and the electorate.
‘We as a group would welcome engagement and debate in this area, which has been ignored by our elected representatives since the UK government decision to treble tuition fees in 2012.’
