Photo: "Place your message here!" by blogTO Flickr pooler Gabi~

Now here's a tax that makes sense: The Beautiful City Billboard Fee, a tax that could raise at least six million dollars annually by charging a fee to third-party outdoor advertisers on city billboards. If approved, the revenue raised would be directed through the Toronto Arts Council and used to support a slew of public art initiates.

The proposal launched by the BCBF Alliance may be an ambitious one, but the logic behind it is quite simple: billboard advertisers should be held accountable to the community for their impact on public space. With the rise of illegal billboards in Toronto (over 500 have been confirmed by anti-billboard front man, Rami Tabello, of illegalsigns.ca), the need for serious action is upon us.

The Beautiful City Alliance is asking those who believe in the regulation of city billboards to sign and circulate the BCBF petition. Every signature counts!