Editorial: Taxing Troubles - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Taxing Troubles

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  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:20:04 GMT
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
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You get what you pay for in this world. 

That’s certainly true in Alabama, where we collect the lowest state and local taxes per person in the country, and rank near the bottom of all states in key measures in education, health and welfare, despite making more progress than all other states in the past decade in some of these areas. 

Our services are already strained as a 10% decrease in tax revenues have forced cuts and we’ve depleted all the money in reserve funds.   

Federal stimulus money will provide just over $500 million in the education trust fund in the new budget and just under $200 million in the general fund, but it won’t offset the decreased tax revenue.  And when the stimulus money runs out, what will replace it if the economy is still stagnant? 

We will be looking for leadership from our next governor and newly elected state representatives to offer guidance on this critical issue. 

Demand answers from all candidates.  What is their plan to raise revenue?   

Should we change the tax structure that sees our poorest pay a higher percentage of their income for taxes than our wealthiest? 

We need to continue to fund key initiatives that have helped us grow. 

Ranking 50th in tax collection, 49th in property taxes and 48th in taxes collected per person as a percentage of personal income, won’t help us grow. 

Going backward now is an unacceptable option.