From AP RALEIGH, N.C. – Gov. Beverly Perdue is increasing pressure on lawmakers to pass a budget by offering her own tax plan to raise $1.6 billion this year.
The package released Tuesday is larger than the $1 billion proposals the House and Senate have worked on the last couple weeks. She said neither is enough to protect education and other vital services.
The proposal would raise the sales tax most consumers pay from 6.75 percent to 7.75 percent for one year and place an emergency surcharge on the highest wage earners for two years. But permanent sales and income tax rates ultimately would be lowered and services subject to the sales tax expanded.
Perdue’s plan also would raise cigarette taxes by 50 cents per pack and increase alcohol taxes.
July 8th, 2009 at 8:02 am
I voted for Governor Perdue and I am disappointed in her leadership! She appears to be nothing more than another statesman! We need decisive leadership from Governor Perdue to protect those whose voice is rarely heard within the walls of our Legislative Building! Just my 2 cents worth!
July 8th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Everything is “Vital”, “Has to be saved” and all the other acronyms that you can use nowadays with the budget.
What happened to a BALANCED BUDGET requirement spending only what money you HAVE??
With this downturn in the economy, why cannot the government also cut back like all the consumers are having to do??
And yes, it is consumer spending that will end the downturn so why pull more money from our pockets with more taxes??
July 9th, 2009 at 2:19 am
Why don’t you thieving politicians start by cutting your salaries in half and then cutting your perks, like NOT paying into S.S. and keeping your full salary for the rest of your lives after serving only 1 term and paying for your health insurance instead of it being paid for by OUR taxe dollars! I’ll bet ya’ll will start changing the laws that applied to illegal aliens then, wouldn’t ya’ll???