Tax Commission Recommendations Raise Needed Revenue but Include Big Corporate Tax Cut
The new plan from the Governor's Blue Ribbon Tax Reform Commission rightly puts the first priority on raising needed revenue...
Budget & Tax
Fact Sheet: College Affordability in Kentucky
Progress in higher education is essential to building a strong economy, an informed citizenry, and a higher quality of life. However, the cost of higher education is a growing challenge...
Pension Recommendations Emphasize Employee Sacrifice While Addressing Only Portion of Liability
The state’s task force on public pensions heard consultants’ recommendations this week that include several ways to raise employee costs and cut benefits, some of which may not be legal....
Arguments to Cut Income Tax Miss Context and Ignore Tax’s Benefits
Those arguing for a shift toward sales taxes and away from income taxes in Kentucky overstate the influence of income taxes on where people live. And they overlook the benefits...
What Would Kentucky Gain from More Business Tax Cuts?
For a state like Kentucky—with high levels of poverty, low wages and too few jobs—a perpetual issue is how government can do more to promote prosperity. For years, the state...
The Bigger Picture on Who Pays Taxes
The vast majority of Kentuckians (and Americans) who don’t owe federal income taxes are either workers who pay payroll taxes, seniors, people with disabilities or students. In 2009-2010, 49 percent...
Taxing Groceries Not a Good Strategy for Kentucky
The recently released consultants’ report to the governor’s tax reform commission included the option of applying Kentucky’s sales tax to food for home consumption (i.e., groceries). While broadening the tax...
State Must Face Pension Debt
Over the last several years, much of the focus given to Kentucky’s pension system has been on ways to shift new employees into some version of a 401(k)-style retirement plan....
Another Corporate Tax Cut Is Not the Answer
A proposal to change the way Kentucky calculates corporate income taxes for big multistate corporations would be a costly experiment that’s just as likely to harm the state’s economy as...
Pension Issue is Primarily a Revenue Challenge
Over the last several years, much of the focus given to Kentucky’s pension system has been on ways to shift new employees into some version of a 401k-style retirement plan....