Let's hear debate about income tax
September 23, 2005
The San Angelo Standard-Times Editorial Board calls for open discussion on a state income tax.
Written by Editor, San Angelo Standard-Times
With virtually no public discussion, without anyone beating the drum and making the case for it, Texans still are open to a personal state income tax.
That fact was brought out in a recent Scripps Howard Texas Poll, and it would be surprising if the same result hadn't been reflected in other polls through the years.
Yet government leaders didn't even give an income tax one moment's consideration when they tried to reform public school funding in three sessions this year.
Maybe many lawmakers operate under the mistaken impression that there is deep and widespread opposition to an income tax. But asked recently whether they would support an income tax if it would lower their property taxes and all the money went to public schools, 45 percent of respondents said yes while 47 percent said no.
Give people more information, said state Sen. Eliot Schapleigh, D-El Paso, and support would increase dramatically.
''If people know that school property taxes go down 90 percent,'' Schapleigh told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, ''I expect the 45 percent goes to 65. If they knew both the income and property tax rates are then capped, then the vote goes higher.''
We are not yet persuaded that an income tax is the right answer for Texas. Certainly there are compelling arguments that the state's economy could be adversely affected, and we would like to hear whether the positive aspects on an income tax - including the fact that about two-thirds of Texans' taxes would go down - would offset that.
That's why legislative leaders need to stop reflexively rejecting a state income tax and have a thorough and high-profile public debate on the topic. Let Texans hear the facts and then let's see what they tell their elected leaders.
Our tax structure is broken. It was written for a different era, and it can't be fixed with minor repairs. One possible reform is an income tax. It's at least worth talking about.
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