Rothesay — While the New Brunswick government is checking the couch cushions for extra tax revenue, newly released information shows that the additional cash from well-off taxpayers is harder to find than ever before.
In 2015, the Liberal government raised taxes on the wealthiest New Brunswickers, but the “tax the rich” plan backfired dramatically. Instead of raising the estimated $30 million in new tax revenue, the 6,000 wealthiest New Brunswickers actually ended up paying less to the government in taxes.
A new investigative report by The Manatee shows that many of these well-off New Brunswickers are keeping their earnings out of government coffers using some tried and true methods of stashing cash. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a Rothesay couple told The Manatee how they keep their income from the government’s grasp.
“I don’t want to spill all of the beans, but I can tell you that our mattresses have never been fuller than they are today, “said the anonymous Rothesay resident. “We’ve been keeping our cash under the radar wherever we can — in mattresses, under floorboards, in the attic, in the deep freeze…wherever.
Two anonymous members of the 6,000 richest New Brunswickers who have been keeping their income ‘off the radar.’
“Seriously, we literally have no places left in the backyard to bury it. We had to move the goldfish’s burial plot. And, do you know how much watertight treasure chests cost?
“We even rented a storage locker and started stacking it in there. It’s ridiculous really, but you do what you need to do.”
“I’d offer you some coffee but we are all out,” she said — standing in front of a pantry full of coffee cans.
“I see. Excuse me for a moment…is this the bathroom?” asked the reporter.
“DON’T OPEN THAT DOOR!” yelped the panicked homeowner. “I’ll never get it closed again.”