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Donald Carcieri on Tax Reform
Republican RI Governor
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Property tax increases can be avoided
In seven years, we have balanced our budget without raising either the sales or income tax. In fact, seven years ago R.I. had the 4th highest tax burden in the country. By last year we had dropped to 10th--but we need to be lower. New Hampshire, for
example, is 50th. Consequently, its unemployment rate is only 7%.Where some of us in this Chamber disagree--is whether property tax increases are inevitable. I know property tax increases can be avoided. For example, if every city and town employee
throughout our state--including all school department personnel--were to agree to a salary reduction plan this year and next, just as state workers have done, tens of millions of dollars could be saved.
This legislature has the ability to prevent
property tax increases by enacting sweeping authorizations that will allow our local leaders to reduce spending. For example, it is long past time to allow the city and town councils of every municipality to have control over their school budgets.
Source: Rhode Island 2010 State of the State Address
, Jan 26, 2010
Reduce spending instead of increasing tax burden
Rhode Island?s taxes are among the highest in the country. Our property taxes are the 5th highest nationally. Our combined state and local tax burden is 9th highest.
We must manage this fiscal crisis by reducing spending, not increasing the tax burden. We are already paying too much.
Source: Campaign web site, www.CarcieriForGovernor.com
, Sep 9, 2002
First priority: Taxpayer's Bill of Rights
We need to change how we budget for the long term. The first major change Don Carcieri will look to make as governor will be to call for and support an amendment to the State Constitution putting in place a Taxpayer?s Bill of Rights.
The Taxpayer?s Bill of Rights will enact constitutional limits on spending in this state. The major component of the amendment will be a law that limits spending increases to the rate of inflation, adjusted for population, in any given year.
Any increases to state spending above the adjusted rate of inflation must be approved by a voter referendum. We need to be responsible in the good years so we have money when times turn tough. Don recognizes that we can not use the ?available money?
theory of budgeting. Just because the state can get the money, does not mean we should. This sort of constitutional budget limitation can begin to return money to the citizens of Rhode Island, whose tax burden is already among the highest in the nation.
Source: Campaign web site, www.CarcieriForGovernor.com
, Sep 9, 2002
Page last updated: Nov 21, 2011