Letter: What about an income tax?

Giving more money for government and politicians to spend or giving them another source is like giving an alcoholic a steady supply of alcohol and a credit account where he can get more at a store if he wants to. If we institute an income tax, property taxes may go down for a year or two but they will go back up because politicians will keep spending more and more and more.

what happened to the focus like a laser on jobs the left boasted in their campaign

as faithful as the sun rises in the east...... a democrats only solution to every single one of their made up problem is MORE TAXES....we have a SPENDING problem not a TAXING problem

Congratulations to all Catholics on the election of Cardinal Bergoglio as their new Pope Francis. “Cardinal Bergoglio had a special place in his heart and his ministry for the poor, for the disenfranchised, for those living on the fringes and facing injustice.” Meanwhile, the people of low per capita income Claremont are struggling to pay for the cost of educating their children at a local education tax rate that is 18 times the rate paid in New Castle, the highest per capita income town in NH. There are many other examples of this type of economic injustice occurring in various towns throughout NH. I suggest that all Catholics, and all Christians who value the teachings of Jesus, should consider following the examples set by Jesus and Pope Francis, and ask their Governor and their Legislators to find a solution for more equitably sharing the statewide cost of educating our children. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/pope-francis-his-name-reflects-his-ministry-for-the-poor/2013/03/13/4a2cc8ce-8c27-11e2-9f54-f3fdd70acad2_story.html

Nationwide polls indicate support for higher taxes on high incomes. A NH tax on high incomes could be used to help the NH towns that are struggling to pay sky high local education tax rates. How about we do something like this: Charge a 5% individual income tax, with a $4000 tax credit for taxpayers residing in NH. That would result in $0 tax due on incomes under $80,000. Examples of net tax due under this formula: $100,000 income, $1000 tax. $150,000 income, $3500 tax. $200,000 income, $6000 tax. $1,000,000 income, $46,000 tax. The income tax paid would be partially offset for residents of the NH towns that are currently experiencing extremely high local ed rates, by using the income tax proceeds to lower their local ed property tax rates. The NH Advantage should not apply only to the wealthy, as it does currently.

The problem with an income tax is that it won't replace the property tax entirely. Only about 10 to 15% on average goes to the state, the rest goes to town/city and then the county. So about $750 to $1250 of your entire proper tax goes to the state. If they use the 5% tax rate and follow the Massachusetts model, then someone making $50k a year ends up paying about $2000 as an income tax. It ends up being an addition, not subtraction for total tax liability. I can tell you as a student in Rhode Island which as an income tax, it was harder to live there on a modest income than it is in New Hampshire. When I moved to NH, I couldn't believe how much more money I had to live on vs. RI. The issue with an income tax or sales tax is that it isn't a scenario where existing taxes are reduced equally and these new taxes are added, but it adds tax to everyone, even the poor, retires and the middle class.

An income tax is a far fairer way to go for everyone. As you progress in life with earnings going up, you pay a little more, later in life when you earn less your taxes go down. This affects everyone the same. Forcing the very young or old to pay 60% to 70% of their income just to provide the basics in life is unfair. Lower the property tax to say 25% of today's rate and raise an income based tax to “equal” today's amount. No additional tax. From this day forward the politicians must use any new revenue on exactly what they asked the money for. NO more asking for roads taxes and then shifting the money elsewhere. If the citizens don’t vote new money for “new” projects – then they don’t happen…… The tax rate on business has little to do with hiring or growth, if the demand for a product is there any good business person will expand and hire. No business will expand without having the greater product or service demand.

A sales tax would be more fair than an income tax. An income tax penalizes tax-payers for saving; a sales tax would not. For those who must see the wealthy tax-penalized - logically people who make more – buy more and thus would pay proportionally more tax. This could only be effective if a realistic sales tax replaced the myriad of taxing systems currently in place. That would take a brave step by the legislature but is possible.

Never happen! It would require an adult conversation, and adults are in short supply in the state house. For now, I'd settle for somebody who can reject "the pledge" and win an election.