Category: State budgets

Momentum to Axe Income Tax Mounts in State Legislatures

Mississippi could become the nation’s 10th state to eliminate its personal income tax, with Republican Gov. Tate Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn (R-Clinton) backing differing plans to do away with the levy when lawmakers convene their 2023 session on Jan. 3. Similar 2023 proposals to erase immediately, or phase-out, state income taxes are also…


Watchdog Warns States Blowing ‘Budget Surpluses’ on Wants Not Needs

In spring 2020, state and local governments were confronted with cascading costs in managing the public health response to the pandemic, spiking unemployment, and steep sales tax and user fee revenue declines resulting from business disruption and restrictions. The situation appeared dire. During the second quarter of 2020, from April to June, the U.S. Government…