Last words on Question 1
We’ve stated our reasons (here, here and here) for voting ‘no’ on Question 1, the ballot referendum to eliminate the State Income Tax. Given Jackie’s recent post about being baffled by differing political opinions, a feeling that I have had as well with Libertarian family members, I’ve made an effort to understand the views of those who are planning to vote ‘yes’. To that end, I’ve been reading a mostly civil (and very long) discourse by citizens planning to vote for and against the question. I can understand some of the arguments, especially the frustration with waste and corruption, but I still think that this ballot question is like using a ‘hatchet when a scalpel is needed.’ The following exchange sums it up for me:
Your representatives will tell you they can’t do it (balance the budget). Tell them, “Do it or get out”
>Of course they can do it. Anyone can put a balanced budget on paper. The real question is do we want them to do it? New Hampshire is an excellent example of the problem. Trying to fund education primarily on the regressive property tax does not work, and is fundamentally unfair to children, whose education will vary wildly from community to community……I have looked at local budgets for a long time, and there is not a lot of fat anymore. If we lose the income tax, STATE AID will be cut. And municipalities, who CANNOT raise their own taxes enough to make up the difference within the limits of prop 2 1/2 (a bar NH does not have!).
Yes they can do it. I don’t think they should.
The regressive nature of the funding that will likely replace the lost income tax dollars is what keeps getting lost in the proponents’ arguments. I am still voting “no” on Tuesday.