We don't raise taxes in the great state of Texas! We have magically created an oasis for big business and the common citizen to live without the fear of big nasty government interfering in our lives. Does this sound too good to be true? Well it is, just don't tell Rick Perry.
Governor Perry, in accordance with the state's Republicans, has created an illusion in terms of how the state creates revenue. He touts the fact that Texas has no income tax, which has created a haven for businesses moving in from other states creating a surplus of jobs. This is a bold statement considering we have no proof of how many jiobs this has actually created. Not only that, the businesses that do come over don't give the state aduquate income in tax money, because the state has slashed those taxes enourmously.
To add insult to injury, the lack of funds created through corporate and income taxation, the amount of money and support given to local governments is appauling. City and local governments are now surviving by raising property rates (taxation), raising fees and fines (taxation), and even setting up speed traps to create any kind of financial support (taxation). The lack of revenue at the state level has forced local governments to act out of desparation and possible turn more to the private sector for help, which could be a goal of the wealthier Texans, who fund Perry's campaign. So while pandering to the Republican base of the state, who covet economic freedeom, he has actually created more of a burden on the taxpayers themselves.
The simple fact in this fast growing and signifigantly underfunded state is that we must raise taxes and the longer we wait, the more we'll have to pay in the future. If we don't, the form of government closest to us, will also be the one in the most disrepair.
I can only see that I must agree with Mr. Avey's argument. Austin itself has an outstanding amount of local revenue per local businesses due to the fact that Austin is sometimes known for,"keepin' it in the family(city)." This is great but honestly how do we know how much revenue is acrueing for our city and state? How much longer will our city survive with no raises in retail taxes? Just because we are at a minimal 8.25% tax rate other taxation changes are being proposed and made through fees and other taxable items. Changes are being made everywhere from raising prices for storing documents for local governments to charging state employees for parking in state garages. Raising insurance premiums for state employees who use tobacco was also in the proposal. How much money is this really going to contribute to our state's shortfall? More than none, I guess that's all that matters.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunatley I think we will absolutley need an income tax in the near future. It doesn't have to be as significant as some of the other states, but just a tax of even one percent would generate so much revenue. The problem is it seems like the whealthier Texans are the ones that have the means to find ways to evade taxes. Even though the lower class Texans and the middle class would probably paying the majority of it, atleast it would build some revenue that may be able to be pumped into education.
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