How did Palin lower Alaska State taxes when there aren't any?

[Breeze54]

Alaska Tax Facts

http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/dca/osa/taxfacts.htm


* Alaska is the largest state in the United States, however, for all its vastness, only a small
portion of the land mass is subject to a property tax.

* There are approximately 391 communities in Alaska, many of which still remain unincorporated.
There are 162 incorporated municipalities (Local Governments). Of those 162, 17 are incorporated
into Boroughs (Boroughs are a rough equivalent to counties) and the remainder are incorporated
as cities.

* Of the 17 Boroughs, only 13 levy a property tax.

* Only 12 Cities located outside of Boroughs levy a property tax. Therefore, only 25
municipalities in Alaska (either cities or boroughs) levy a property tax.

* 108 municipalities (reporting) levy a general sales tax. Sales tax rates range from
a low of 1% to a high of 7%.

* The "typical" sales tax rates are from 3%-5%.

* Other types of local taxes levied are raw fish taxes, hotel/motel "bed" taxes, severance
taxes, liquor and tobacco taxes, gaming (pull tabs) taxes and fuel transfer taxes.

* In 2007, local governments generated approximately $1.21 billion in revenues from property,
sales and severance taxes. Of that amount $957.6 million was from property taxes.

* Prudhoe Bay and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAPs) contribute a little over $236 million
in property taxes to local government.

* Alaska exempts from property taxes, the first $150,000 of assessed value for all senior citizens
(65 years of age and over) and disabled veterans (50% or more service connected disability).

* The average assessed value exempted from taxes for senior citizens and disabled veterans
is $134,434 which equated to a tax exemption of $1,784 for 2007.

* In 2007, the total full value for all municipalities (over 750 in population) was $84.3 billion
(including TAPS). With a statewide population of 670,053 the per capita full value was $125,741.

* The average per capita property tax paid in all municipalities, excluding oil and gas properties, was $1,228.

* There is no statewide sales tax levied.

* There is no personal state income tax.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. By getting all that earmark money from the feds, she didn't have to raise any local taxes...

...which in republicanland is the same as lowering taxes.

[Breeze54]

3. She's a liar and why hasn't she returned that money for bridge she was for and then against?

:shrug:

Sarah Palin on Tax Reform

http://www.ontheissues.org/Sarah_Palin.htm#Tax_Reform

Click here for 5 full quotes on Tax Reform OR other candidates on Tax Reform OR background on Tax Reform.


* Elected mayor based on tax cut promise. (Aug 2008)

* As mayor, cut property taxes & increased sales tax. (Aug 2008)

* $60M annually for municipal revenue sharing. (Mar 2008)

* Eliminate taxes that inhibit business. (Jan 2008)

* Repeal "nuisance taxes" including the tire tax. (Jan 2007)

[Blue_In_AK]

2. She increased the taxes on the oil companies

doing business in the state, over their kicking and screaming, thus the state has a lot of cash right now. It's not exactly lowering our taxes, but it is increasing the budget surplus.

[Breeze54]

4. GOP is spinning it that she "cut taxes"....

:eyes:

Thanks, Blue_In_AK ! :hi:

[onenote]

5. link to discussion of her tax "record"

http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/2008/08/29/palin-uninspiring-tax-policy-record/

[Blue_In_AK]

6. "Sounds like welfare"

That's too funny. I know this will probably come as a shock to many here on DU, but Sarah Palin has many critics in Alaska, most in her own party, who accuse her of being a "socialist" because of the $1200 energy rebate, the increased taxes on the oil companies, and the suspension of the gasoline tax for a year. Not too surprising that the Cato Institute falls into that category of critics.

[Breeze54]

7. That is a funny comment about the whole state on welfare but I've also

read and heard that there are many Alaskans that can't stand Palin.

Fear not! We get it! ;)

[FVZA_Colonel]

8. And hasn't Obama proposed, essentially, for the entire country what she did in Alaska?

Why is he getting hammered when she's being praised?


Oh right, Democrat versus Republican.

[Breeze54]

10. Yup... he did propose a similar idea!

You are correct! ;)

[Blue_In_AK]

9. It's true, many Alaskans can't stand Palin,

and a big majority of them are from her own party, ironically enough. (Sorry for repeating myself.) Speculation is that the rumors re Trig really being Bristol's son were started by anti-Palinistas in her own town of Wasilla. She made a lot of enemies in her party when she called out state party chairman Randy Ruedrich on his ethical lapses before she ran for governor. The Corrupt Bastards and the Big Oil companies can't stand her.

I don't know what she was thinking by accepting this appointment and subjecting herself and her family (and by extension all of us Alaskans) to this kind of media scrutiny and ridicule. She could have told him no thanks and remained a popular governor in a small state, and we could have kept all the gossip to ourselves. It kind of sucks.

And for the record, not all of us are gun-toting, wolf-killing, fundie nut jobs. I just wanted to make that clear.

[Breeze54]

11. I know that, Blue_In_AK... I met many cool people from AK when I lived in NV.

;)