Texas Taxing Continued

As we already know, among list of about 60 various taxes collected by our Comptroller, income tax will not be on that list. Instead we see a few that are quite unclear or just silly.

For example: the Cement Production Tax, collecting 55 cents per ton of cement from the person who manufactures or produces cement in Texas. The only other state that I have seen with a similar tax is Montana. Get this: the Oyster Sales Fee, which collects one dollar for every “300lb-barrel of oysters taken from Texas waters” due the 20^th day of every month.

Due quarterly is the Fee on Sexually Oriented Businesses Tax, which puts you out of a sexy 5 dollars for every “entry” by the customer admitted to the business. I doubt that previous tax is so rare for other states, but it still is pretty fun to look at the specifics and numbers of some of these taxes not really seen by the common man (or woman.)

Concluding my list but definitely not the last on the tax list is the Pari-Mutuel Tax. This tax is imposed on money wagered on Horse and Greyhound Racing, including during broadcasts. 1% is collected per about 100 million dollars for live pools or horses or greyhounds. A report must be received by the comptroller the business day following a race.

The fact that these seemingly strange taxes exist really makes me wonder what kind of revenue is built from these taxes specifically. I wonder if these are a result of compensation for a nonexistent income tax. 

Informative article about the structure of our legislature

         I recently read Leigh’s article about the structure of our legislature. She brings up points about our legislature following a “citizen legislature” model. This idea of citizen legislature, even just the name, sounds pretty reassuring in the nature that legislation would be better representative of our public, the citizens, as they make up the legislature.

         Leigh explains why this structure doesn't necessarily work in our populated state, and she gives insight as to how it could potentially serve to widen the socioeconomic gap between the representors and the represented. 

         The article is very informative, intelligently worded, and occasionally laced with humor. It is definitely worth the read.

Income tax? Whatever.

Along with Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming, Texas is one of the few states with no income tax. Sounds great right? Well kind of. Texas is going to get its money some way or another. Although Texans do pay more when it comes to other forms of taxation whether it is sales taxes, property taxes, fuel taxes, etc, it would be safe to say the tax burden is relatively low.

Our tax-utopia looks like the Promised Land to those in states like California with suicidal tax policies leaving a fairly powerful statement on the migration data. Though there is fairly inconclusive evidence that people under low tax governments appear happier than the proud patriots in high tax nations such as Brazil, there is substantial evidence that income tax less states create more jobs and grow faster.

On the other hand, the less money the government receives, the less it can spend, and this spending burden is particularly noticeable when it comes to financing education. This creates debt on the local level to cover the cost of school districts and public maintenance projects. I don’t think that Texans would be so keen to adopt a state income tax just to ease the stress on our government’s coin purse. But hey, maybe one day, one Pringles can at a time, 8.25% at a time, we can fix some potholes on Metric Blvd.