Slim tax base intensifies budget crunch

Five years ago, state Sen. Ken Pruitt sounded a dire and prophetic warning about Florida's future. "The sales tax must be reformed if it is to meet our needs in the years to come," Pruitt warned fellow lawmakers as he called for sweeping changes to the tax system.

"I believed it then," Pruitt said when asked about his passion for an expanded tax base in 2002. "At the same time, we're here to face the budget cuts. We're not about raising taxes."

More here.

Comments

Slim tax base? Here's where the lack of education shows. He doesn't even understand the concept.

Pruitt has short term memory problems. I haven't heard a peep from him about addressing the unstable revenue stream.

When the republican's wanted to end exemptions, it was for the purpose or lowering the sales tax. The d's just want more money. That IS the difference.

The Republicans keep growing government and pushing the cost of education on to the local property owners who pay for education increases in higher property taxes.

Tell me, have the Republicans really lowered taxes, reduced the size of government and promoted more freedom?

What a bait and switch on the people of Florida.

Where are the libertarians?

[Thomas Paine]

Broaden the base and lower the tax.

more evidence of "republican managerial expertise..." zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Ronnie]

We don’t need more taxes we need less. Wouldn’t it be nice if the rest of us could guarantee that our income does not change when the economy goes afoul? But some in our government wants to do just that. We are not spending as much money because we cannot afford to. Our economy has weakened and we are scaling back waiting for a recovery. Our governments need to do the same. Reduce or eliminate nonessential services until the economy recovers and we start spending more.

And why is it that some want to add taxes to businesses? Does anyone really think that businesses pay taxes? No, it is an expense passed on to the consumer. Businesses are supposed to make money or else they wouldn’t be in business. When they make money, they give people jobs. Don’t most of us work for a business? What do you think will happen to your job when the business you work for can’t make money? You will be in the unemployment line or trying to get a job with a business that is making money.

This column is a perfect example of how when someone believes something, they will ignore evidence to the contrary of their beliefs.

Pruitt, Carlton and the rest of the chicken littles were wrong in 2002 when they tried to "expand the tax base" which is code for "raising taxes." Yet the columnist reports their quotes as prescient

Our economy rebounded and prospered without an increase in the state's tax base, and inspite of huge increases on property.

The economic problems we are facing today are not a result of a narrow tax base, it is a result of years of excessive taxation. Expanding the tax base will only ensure that our current economic problems, which are minor and manageable, deepen into true economic crisis.

the tax base is ALWAYS 'slilm' when it depends on a regressive sales tax!!
a well-designed income tax would do quite niceley, wouldnt it?
of course, some folks might not like paying their share, mightnt they?

A Florida income tax would be hard to pull off, since it would require a Constitutional amendment.

John McKay was right then, and he is right now. Stop all the crazy exemptions....I don't mind paying taxes on my haircuts, and I am not concerned that the skybox owners cannot afford it.

[RJM]

Republicans keep growing government? Don't confuse the feds with the state.
VPK, KidCare, etc... are not Republican initiatives.

Senate President Pruitt,

Time is basically out for such a revision of the Florida tax structure.

Why didn't you spend some political capital on it?