income tax

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The Week in Public Finance: Do Income Tax Caps Only Benefit the Wealthy?

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North Carolina voters will weigh in on the rare policy in November.
BY  | SEPTEMBER 7, 2018
The North Carolina Capitol (David Kidd)

For a summary of November's most important ballot measures, click here.

A proposed income tax cap in North Carolina survived a court challenge this week, leaving it to the voters to decide whether to lean in to what is a rare policy in state government.

The November ballot measure would lower the state’s income tax rate cap from 10 percent to 7 percent. That’s still above the state’s current flat income tax rate of just under 5.5 percent. But in the past, the rate has been as high as 8.25 percent for high-income earners.

Capping income tax rates is unusual. Georgia is the only other state that does so, with a 6 percent cap approved by voters in 2014.

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The Week in Public Finance: NYC's $3 Billion in Giveaways, Weak Revenues and Jacksonville's Pension Fix

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A roundup of money (and other) news governments can use.
BY  | NOVEMBER 4, 2016

Why New York City Gave Up $3 Billion in 2016

New York City is the first major government this year to release what it gives up in economic development-related tax incentives to corporations, following new financial reporting requirements. In its annual financial report, the city disclosed that it waived more than $3 billion in potential tax revenue in 2016 alone, mostly in uncollected property taxes.

The tax abatements represent a little under 4 percent of the city’s nearly $80 billion in general fund revenue in fiscal 2016, which ended on June 30.

The most expensive abatement was for the commercial conversion program, which cost nearly $1.3 billion in forgone revenue last year. The program encourages new housing in the city by offering a property tax discount on new construction or on commercial space that was converted into residential housing. Developments have to meet certain requirements, like reserving one-fifth of the units for affordable housing.