State Rundown 2/5: Three Revenue Raisers and A Tax Cut

Today we are taking a look at revenue raising proposals in New York and Oregon, fast-moving tax cuts in Idaho (with some ITEP numbers), and highlighting the impact of state tax cuts on local governments in Ohio. Have a great weekend!

As always, thanks for reading.
— Meg Wiehe, ITEP’s State Tax Policy Director

A local official in Ohio says citizens have no choice but to raise local taxes in the wake of state budget cuts–the latest reminder that tax-cutting states such as Ohio are often just passing the buck to localities. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said that city residents will have to approve a 0.5 percent local income tax rate increase (from 2 to 2.5 percent) to avoid cuts in services. The increase would generate $85 million in revenue that Jackson pledges will go to expanding services. Otherwise, the city faces a deficit next fiscal year thanks to cuts in state funding and declining property tax revenues.  If approved by the city council, the income tax increase would then be put before voters in November.

Oregon  Sen. Mark Hass introduced a revenue proposal this week that he sees as an alternative to a corporate income tax initiative that will likely be on the ballot in November.  The ballot initiative, sponsored by Our Oregon, would create an additional minimum tax on corporations with Oregon sales of at least $25 million (a 2.5 percent tax would apply to sales in excess of $25 million).   If the initiative wins approval, it would raise close to $3 billion annually in new revenue for public education and senior health care programs. Currently, corporations doing business in Oregon pay the greater of a minimum tax based on relative Oregon sales or a corporate income tax rate of 6.6 percent on income up to $1 million and 7.6 percent on income thereafter. Hass’ proposal would eliminate the current system of corporate taxation and replace it with a Commercial Activity Tax of 0.39 percent on gross receipts. Hass would also cut taxes for households earning $58,000 or less and increase the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit from 8 to 18 percent of the federal credit. Hass’ measure would raise $1 billion in new revenue each biennium with half of the revenue going towards public education spending and the other half to pay for his targeted low- and middle-income tax cuts.

An Idaho House committee approved a tax cut bill from House Majority Leader Mike Moyle that would cut the corporate income tax rate, and top two personal income tax rates, by a tenth of a percentage point each. If passed, the top two personal income tax rates would fall to 7.3 and 7 percent, while the corporate rate would drop to 7.3 percent. The bill would also increase the grocery tax credit by $10 for some Idahoans of more modest incomes. On net, however, the proposal would primarily benefit the state’s wealthiest taxpayers. ITEP estimates that while most families would receive tax cuts of $35 or less, the top 1 percent of earners would take home an additional $815 per year, on average.

The New York Assembly will consider a proposal to raise taxes on millionaires and cut taxes for working families. Under the proposal, individuals earning between $1 million and $5 million would pay a tax rate of 8.82 percent on that income. Income between $5 million and $10 million would be taxed at 9.32 percent, and income over $10 million would be taxed at 9.82 percent. If enacted, the tax increases would raise $1.7 billion in revenue. Middle class earners who make $40,000 to $150,000 would get a modest tax rate reduction, from 6.45 to 6.25 percent. The state’s Earned Income Tax Credit would also be increased, with the average recipient seeing a boost of $110.

If you like what you are seeing in the Rundown (or even if you don’t) please send any feedback or tips for future posts to Sebastian Johnson at sdpjohnson@itep.org. Click here to sign up to receive the Rundown in via email.