Controlling

State Taxation

To the Editor:

State income tax revenues have been increasing at about 12 percent each year over the past three years, per the Department of Revenue Services — $5.4 billion in year 2003-04 grew to $7.6 billion in 2006-07. These increases are placing a tremendous burden on Connecticut taxpayers. How can taxpayers get ahead when the state takes away so much?

It is no secret most state legislators are like kids in a candy store — they spend all the money they have, and then ask for more. The legislators just raise more tax revenue and shake down the taxpayers to provide additional funds for the pet spending frills.

In contrast, the towns of Connecticut are better at controlling tax increases than our liberal-spending legislators in Hartford led by the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tem of the Senate.

Most towns have been successful at holding annual tax increases to about four percent for combined municipal and school expenses. Therefore, it would be good to have a group of financial officers from the towns give the state legislators a few lessons on how to hold down tax increases.

Now is the time to place a three percent limit on the annual growth of state income tax collections. Unless a cap is placed on state tax collections, an income tax revolt is inevitable due to an out-of-control tax structure.

My guess is someday Connecticut will have tax and spending controls at least as strong as those in California where income tax collections increased by only 3.6 percent last year.

Very truly yours,

Lewis S. Clark, PhD Econ

120 Camp Road, Middlebury                                  November 2, 2007