Oklahoma's Fiscal Outlook (June 2012)

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    Oklahomas Fiscal Outlook:Moving from Crisis to Stability

    July 2012

    David Blatt

    [email protected](918) 794-3944

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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    Oklahomas Path to Prosperity

    What does Oklahoma need tobe a prosperous state?

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    Oklahomas Path to Prosperity

    What Prosperity Looks Like Good-paying jobs

    Well-educated, well-trained workforce -

    Quality education system from early childhood to

    post-secondary More college graduates

    Well-functioning infrastructure

    Healthy communities -

    Access to timely and affordable care

    Public health

    Safe streets

    Stable safety net for those in need

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    Oklahomas Path to Prosperity

    Were In This Together Successful outcomes for our families, businesses and

    communities depend on effective public structures andsystems

    Government is among our means of achieving our

    common goals as a state alongside private businesses,non-profits, philanthropies, faith groups, and families

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    Oklahomas Path to Prosperity

    We Lag Behind

    We fall short in many of our common goals:

    Students in bottom third in reading and math proficiency (2009)

    43rd in share of population with a college degree (22.2 percent,2008)

    46th in overall health; in the bottom 10 states for rates ofsmoking, obesity, diabetes, job-related deaths, prematuredeaths, infant mortality, and days lost to mental and physicalillness (2011)

    1 in 6 Oklahomans (16.9 percent) and 1 in 4 children (24.5percent) live in poverty (2010)

    4th in total prisoners per capita and 1st in female incarcerationrates (2009)

    9th worst road conditions

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    Oklahomas Path to Prosperity

    We Already Lag Behind

    Oklahoma invests less than most states in ourpublic structures.

    -$1,000

    $1,000

    $3,000

    $5,000

    $7,000

    $9,000

    Spending

    perPerson

    State and Local Spending per Person by Function, 2007-08

    Oklahoma

    US Average

    Source: U.S. Bureauof the Census

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    Oklahomas Path to Prosperity

    We Already Lag Behind

    Four years of budget cuts or flat funding andgrowing obligations threaten to corrode our publicstructures and weaken our prosperity

    Can we provide a quality education for all

    students and produce the skilled workforcethat businesses need?

    Can we fix our crumbling infrastructure?

    Can we improve our physical health and

    well-being? Can we ensure the safety of vulnerable

    children and seniors left in our care?

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    The Recession Hit in Late 2008 Oklahoma experienced six straight quarters of negative growth

    (declining state personal income) in late 20082009

    Economy has mostly grown faster than the nations since start of2010

    -8.0%

    -6.0%

    -4.0%

    -2.0%

    0.0%

    2.0%

    4.0%

    6.0%

    8.0%

    2007.3 2008.1 2008.3 2009.1 2009.3 2010.1 2010.3 2011.1 2011.3

    % Change from Prior

    Quarter Quarterly Change in Personal Income,Oklahoma and National,

    4th Quarter 2007 to 1st Quarter 2012

    National Oklahoma

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    State Budgets Hammered

    All but four states faced budget shortfalls in FY 11.

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Its a Revenue Problem

    Five consecutive quarters of worsening collections

    Revenue dropped more than twice as steeply as in theprevious downturn

    Revenues recovering over past eight quarters

    -12.1%

    -29.5%

    16.1%

    5.7%

    -40.0%

    -30.0%

    -20.0%

    -10.0%

    0.0%

    10.0%

    20.0%

    30.0%

    Q1

    FY

    '02

    Q3

    FY

    '02

    Q1

    FY

    '03

    Q3

    FY

    '03

    Q1

    FY

    '04

    Q3

    FY

    '04

    Q1

    FY

    '05

    Q3

    FY

    '05

    Q1

    FY

    '06

    Q3

    FY

    '06

    Q1

    FY

    '07

    Q3

    FY

    '07

    Q1

    FY

    '08

    Q3

    FY

    '08

    Q1

    FY

    '09

    Q3

    FY

    '09

    Q1

    FY

    '10

    Q3

    FY

    '10

    Q1

    FY

    '11

    Q3

    FY

    11

    Q1

    FY

    12

    Q3

    FY

    12

    Quarterly Year-over-Year Change in General Revenue Collections,

    FY '02 - FY '12

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Its a Revenue Problem FY 10 General Revenue 23 percent below FY 08 pre-downturn

    levels

    Revenues increased by 10.5 percent in FY 11 and are projected torise 8.1 percent in FY 12 but to remain below pre-downturn levelsthrough FY 13

    $4,717$4,408

    $4,174$4,616

    $4,966

    $5,701$5,935 $5,953

    $5,544

    $4,621

    $5,138$5,555 $5,600

    $0

    $1,000

    $2,000

    $3,000

    $4,000

    $5,000

    $6,000

    $7,000

    FY '01 FY '02 FY '03 FY '04 FY '05 FY '06 FY '07 FY '08 FY '09 FY '10 FY '11 FY '12

    (proj.)

    FY '13

    (est.)

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Its a Revenue ProblemTax Cuts Had a Long-Term Impact

    Tax cuts were large, permanent, and back-loaded

    Tax cuts were stretched out over several years; full impact willnot be felt until FY13

    Major cuts were almost all to the personal income tax

    Lost Revenues from Select Tax Cuts Enacted 2004 - 2006

    FY'05 through FY'10 (in $ millions)

    $18.7$144.8

    $333.3

    $561.8$651.1

    $776.9

    $0.0

    $200.0

    $400.0

    $600.0

    $800.0

    FY'05 FY'06 FY'07 FY'08 FY'09 FY'10

    source: Oklahoma Tax Commission

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Tax Collections Are at Historic Lows In FY 10 tax collections equaled 5.5 percent of state

    personal income, compared to 7.2 percent in FY 01

    Tax collections have not kept pace with personalincome since FY 06

    Sources: State personal income from Bureau of Economic Analysis; Taxcollections from Annual Executive Budget

    5.0%

    5.5%

    6.0%

    6.5%

    7.0%

    7.5%

    8.0%

    -

    2,000,000

    4,000,000

    6,000,000

    8,000,000

    10,000,000

    1982

    1983

    1984

    1985

    1986

    1987

    1988

    1989

    1990

    1991

    1992

    1993

    1994

    1995

    1996

    1997

    1998

    1999

    2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

    2005

    2006

    2007

    2008

    2009

    2010

    State Tax Collections Tax Collections as % of State Personal Income

    Its a Revenue Problem

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Budgeting Through the Crisis Three consecutive years of declining appropriations (FY 10

    FY 12) followed by modest increases (FY 13)

    FY 13 appropriations of $6,855.8 million:

    $253 million, 3.8 percent, above FY 12

    $269 million, 3.8 percent, below FY 09

    See FY 13 Budget Highlights at:http://okpolicy.org/files/FY13Highlights.pdf

    $6,217

    $6,760

    $7,043

    $7,095

    $5,897 $5,938

    $6,404

    $6,856$30

    $838$554

    99

    $224

    $273$100

    $4,000

    $4,500

    $5,000

    $5,500

    $6,000

    $6,500

    $7,000

    $7,500

    FY'06 FY'07 FY'08 FY'09 FY '10 FY '11 FY '12 FY '13

    State Appropriations, FY '06- FY '13

    (in $ Millions, includes supplementals, excludes Rainy Day "spillover" funds)

    State Revenues Federal Relief Rainy Day Fund

    Total=

    $6,603

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Budgeting Through the Crisis Just under 90 percent of appropriations consistently goes to 10agencies that provide core services

    Over 65 agencies share remaining funding

    Common Ed.; $2,278; 35.0%

    Higher Ed.; $945 ;14.5%

    OHCA (Medicaid);$983 ; 15.1%

    DHS; $537 ; 8.3%Corrections; $460 ;

    7.1%Transportation;

    $107 ; 1.6%

    Mental Health; $187; 2.9%

    Career Tech; $134 ;2.1%

    Juv. Affairs; $96 ;1.5%

    Public Safety; $85 ;

    1.3%

    All Other

    Agencies; $699 ;

    10.7%

    FY '12 Appropriations: Total and 10 Largest Agencies (excludes supplementals)

    TotalAppropriations:

    $6,510.5 million

    Total Ten Largest:

    $5,811.9; 89.2%

    Notes:

    Transportation also received $70 from

    bond issue;

    OHCA excludes revenue from hospital

    provider assessmber (SHOPP)

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Budgeting Through the Crisis Budgets for three straight years (FY 10, FY 11 & FY 12)involved variations on a theme:

    Large shortfalls in projected revenues

    Fear of devastating budget cuts

    Use of non-recurring revenues to partly bridge the budget gap

    Budget cuts across state government but less severe for coreeducation, health, human services, and public safety agencies

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Budgeting Through the Crisis: FY 10 FY 12 Governors Henry and Fallin and the Legislature used variousrevenue enhancements to bridge budget shortfalls and reduce theseverity of cuts:

    Revenue enhancements totaled close to $3 billion over 3 years

    Half from federal stimulus bills; remainder divided between

    Rainy Day Fund, cash transfers, enhanced tax compliance, andsuspending and deferring tax credits

    Most new revenues were one-time/non-recurring

    Budget cuts for almost all agencies for 3 consecutive years

    Some 40 agencies more than half of all appropriated agencies

    absorbed cuts of greater than 20 percent Cuts to some key health, human services, education, and publicsafety agencies were less severe

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Budgeting Through the Crisis: FY 13 Total appropriations increased by $253 million (3.8 percent) fromFY 12

    Most agencies will receive flat funding in FY 13

    46 of 78 appropriated agencies will receive the same amount or less

    Several agencies received funding increases for targeted

    priorities, including:

    DHS for the child welfare reform plan

    Transportation to fill budget holes after end of bond issues

    Health Care Authority for Medicaid expenditure growth

    Mental Health and Corrections for criminal justice reforms

    Education agencies received no additional funding or very smallincreases

    Support for public schools through the state aid formula held flat

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Budgeting Through the Crisis No agencies have been funded to cover rising operating andemployee benefit costs

    State government workforce has shrunk by 9.8 percent comparedto FY 09 and is 4.4 percent smaller than in FY 01

    Staffing cuts have been especially severe for correctional

    facilities

    37,139 37,486 37,684 36,723 37,40338,231 38,834 38,924

    39,35038,154

    36,081 35,504

    20,000

    25,000

    30,000

    35,000

    40,000

    FY-01 FY-02 FY-03 FY-04 FY-05 FY-06 FY-07 FY-08 FY-09 FY-10 FY-11 FY-12

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Impact of Cuts State appropriated spending reached its lowest level inat least 30 years in FY 11 and has likely fallen evenfurther this year

    Budget cuts and funding shortfalls continue to affectOklahoma students, teachers, public employees, non-

    profit organizations and private sector businesses

    4.5%

    5.0%

    5.5%

    6.0%

    6.5%

    7.0%

    Sources: State personal income from Bureau of Economic Analysis;Appropriations from various sources

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Impact of Cuts: Education

    State aid funding has declined by $214 million since FY 2008while public school enrollment has increased by over 24,000students.

    Almost 1,000 fewer teachers than in 2008, leading to largerclass sizes and reduced class offerings.

    Department of Education eliminated funding for adulteducation, alternative education, research-based teachertraining programs, evaluation contracts, and other programs.

    Despite new testing requirements, funding reduced for ACEremediation and eliminated for Reading Sufficiency in FY 13.

    FY 12 budget initially failed to fund full year of health carebenefits and stipends for board-certified teachers.

    Common education has fallen to lowest share of stateappropriations since at least FY 00

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Impact of Cuts: Health and Human Services

    In the past three years, the Health Department has been cut by20 percent, forcing layoffs for at least 300 employees.

    Health Department eliminated 17 child guidance centers servingpre-school children with developmental delays;

    Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Servicesreduced beds and closed centers for childrens mental health andadult substance abuse, cut contracts to all providers;

    Over 6,000 families on waiting list for developmentally-disabledhome and community based waiver program;

    Significant reductions in counseling programs for abused womenand children and prenatal education for low-income mothers;

    Office of Juvenile Affairs cancelled youth detention and gangprevention programs.

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Impact of Cuts: Other Areas

    The Department of Corrections remains critically understaffed.Stress from being required to work frequent double-shifts isleading to high turnover. Often just one officer may be on duty ina dining hall of 160 inmates.

    The number of state troopers on Oklahoma highways is at itslowest level in 22 years.

    The state owes $36 million to more than 600 cities, counties,electrical cooperatives, state agencies, fire districts, schools andIndian tribes for its share of costs associated with 21 naturaldisasters dating back to 2007.

    State workers have not received a pay increase in 6 years. Thenumber of state workers has dropped by 3,804 (9.8 percent)since FY 09.

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    Budget Trends: FY 10 FY 13

    Impact of Cuts

    Oklahomans expect state government to:

    educate our children

    train our workforce

    maintain our infrastructure

    protect our communities

    aid our most vulnerable family members and neighbors

    Have years of underfunding and the extended period of flatfunding and cuts shrunk state government to the point

    where it is no longer capable of performing these corefunctions?

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    The Challenges We Face

    An Incomplete Recovery Monthly General Revenue collections above the same month

    for the prior year in 24 of last 25 months

    -8%

    -22%-19%

    -21%

    -28%-30%

    -26%

    -32%

    -30%

    -24%

    -31%-29%

    -17%

    -7%

    1.6%

    0%

    6%

    2%

    10%

    5%6%

    3%

    9%

    13%

    20%

    12%9%

    13%

    10%

    16%

    5%

    18%

    15%

    6%

    23%

    19%

    7%

    15%

    -1%

    6%4%

    -40.0%

    -30.0%

    -20.0%

    -10.0%

    0.0%

    10.0%

    20.0%

    30.0%

    Jan-09 Apr-09 Jul-09 Oct-09 Jan-10 Apr-10 Jul-10 Oct-10 Jan-11 Apr-11 Jul-11 Oct-11 Jan-12 Apr-12

    Change in Monthly General Revenue Collections,

    Compared to Same Month Prior Year, Jan '09 - May'12

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    The Challenges We Face

    An Incomplete Recovery FY 12 revenue collections through May up 21 percent from

    FY 10 but still 7 percent below FY07

    Revenues still below nominal levels of 6 years ago

    4,2694,001

    3,748

    4,1914,431

    5,1215,348 5,321 5,077

    4,123

    4,532

    4,982

    $0

    $1,000

    $2,000

    $3,000

    $4,000

    $5,000

    $6,000

    FY '01 FY '02 FY '03 FY '04 FY '05 FY '06 FY '07 FY '08 FY '09 FY '10 FY '11 FY '12

    July-May General Revenue Collections,

    FY '01 - FY '12 (in $Millions)

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    The Challenges We Face

    An Incomplete RecoverySubstantial demands on scarce resources

    Short-TermIn a hole

    Need to restore cuts of past three years and pay for ongoingoperating costs of state government

    Strengthen our child welfare system in accordance with settlementagreement

    Thousands with developmental disabilities and mental illness on thewaiting list for services

    Long-TermStructural deficit

    Hazardous physical infrastructure roads, bridges, state buildings

    Water infrastructure needs - $80 billion over next 50 years

    Aging population will require increased health care, social servicesspending

    Unfunded pension liabilities still exceed $10 billion

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    The Challenges We Face

    Projected Annual Budget Surpluses and Deficits

    Before and After 2004-2006 Tax Cuts (2007 to 2035)

    (2,500)

    (2,000)

    (1,500)

    (1,000)

    (500)

    0

    500

    1,000

    2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025 2027 2029 2031 2033 2035

    Growing Long-Term Obligations

    Oklahoma faces a structural deficitNormal growth of revenues is insufficient to finance the normal

    cost of services year after year.

    Source: Projections conducted in 2007 by Dr. Kent Olson, Professor ofEconomics, Oklahoma State University

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    Growing Long-Term ObligationsFederal Deficit Reduction Will Compound State Problems

    Budget Control Act established caps on discretionaryspending though 2021 to reduce federal deficits by $917B

    Failure of Super Committee to agree on deficit reductionmeasures triggered automatic procedures to reduce

    spending by $1.2 trillion

    Exempts Medicaid, mandatory programs

    Half the cuts would be from defense budget

    Discretionary programs facing 9 percent cuts

    Includes all education and worker training fundingstreams, many social services and health grants,agriculture, environment, others

    Effective January 2013

    The Challenges We Face

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    The Challenges We Face

    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    You have to be sure you're right before cutting tax rates or

    shrinking the tax base. The Legislature and the governor

    cannot say in following years, Oops, we made a mistake.

    - Larkin Warner, OSU Regents Professor of Economics, Nov. 2011

    Whatever our tax structure is in Oklahoma, its doing a good

    job of not holding us back, and on the other hand we dont

    want to do anything to mess it up. And thats what you

    always have to be careful of when you start getting politicalsolutions to problems that may not really exist.

    - Scott Meacham, Former State Treasurer, April 2012

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    The Challenges We Face

    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    Preserve the Income Tax

    The essential cornerstone of a balanced tax system

    Single largest state revenue source:

    $2.2 billion in FY10 - 32.1 percent of total collections.

    Personal

    Income Tax,

    $2,224.8

    32.1%

    Corporate

    Income Tax,

    $216.4

    3.1%

    Sales Tax,

    $1,815.3

    26.2%

    Gross

    Production Tax,

    $732.2

    10.6%

    Motor Vehicle

    Taxes,

    $579.3

    8.4%

    Other,

    $1,353.6

    19.6%

    Total State Tax Collections, FY '10

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    The Challenges We Face

    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    Preserve the Income Tax

    Largest funding source for state services

    Based on the share of agency appropriations funded with incometax revenues, elimination of the personal income tax would leaveus unable to pay for:

    Salary and benefits for 17,000 classroom teachers; AND

    Health insurance coverage for 430,000 low-income children; AND

    Incarceration of 9,300 inmates; AND

    Tuition for 19,000 Oklahomas Promise students; AND

    The ROADS transportation improvement plan; AND

    Many other services and programs across state government.

    See: What the Income Tax Pays For at http://okpolicy.org/tax-reform-information

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    The Challenges We Face

    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    Preserve the Income Tax

    Taxes are rarely decisive in business investment decisions.

    For 24 years, Ive been conducting interviews with

    executives of companies that we tried to recruit to Ardmorethat ended up locating elsewhere. Not once in all thoseyears did a company that rejected Ardmore base itsdecisions on taxes.

    -Ardmore Chamber of Commerce President Wes Stucky, Oct. 2011

    I will tell you that state income tax had absolutely noimpact in terms of the decision of merging the company and

    where the corporate headquarters is located.-Phillips Petroleum CEO Jim Mulva, discussing the companys merger withHouston-based Conoco Inc. and decision to locate its new headquarters inHouston, November 2001

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    The Challenges We Face

    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    Preserve the Income Tax

    Oklahoma is already doing better than most states,including those without an income tax

    Third best job growth, #1 best manufacturing job growth (2011)

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    The Challenges We Face

    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    Preserve the Income Tax

    Cutting the income tax will create great pressure to raise salestaxes or property taxes

    Oklahomas average combined state and local sales tax rate 8.66percent is already 5th highest in the nation (Tax Foundation)

    Untaxed Internet sales already cost Oklahoma $185M to $225Mannually (OK Tax Commission)

    Texas has a higher state sales tax rate (6.25 percent) than doesOklahoma (4.5 percent) and assesses the sales tax on 83categories of services, compared to 32 in Oklahoma

    Every state without an income tax has higher per capita property

    taxes than Oklahoma

    The average Texan pays three times as much property tax as theaverage Oklahoman

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    The Challenges We Face

    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    The income tax is essential to tax fairness

    Low and middle-incomeOklahomans pay moreof their income in state& local taxes than dowealthy households

    Income tax partlyoffsets the regressivityof sales and propertytaxes

    Broad-based taxpreferences help low-income seniors andfamilies with children

    Preserve the Income Tax

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    The Challenges We Face

    The 2012 Tax Debate Various tax cut proposals under consideration

    All would lower the top income tax rate, at least partlyoffset lost revenue by eliminating various income taxcredits, deductions and exemptions

    Plan differed as to: Fiscal impact (revenue-neutral vs. revenue

    reduction)

    Which tax preferences were eliminated

    Reduction or elimination of income tax

    Triggers for future tax cuts

    See OK Policys Summary and Comparison at:http://okpolicy.org/files/TaxPlanComparison.pdf

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    The Challenges We Face

    The 2012 Tax Debate

    The Senate Plan (SB 1623)

    Based on 2011 Tax Reform Tax Force recommendationsdeveloped by Sen. Mazzei & Rep. Dank

    Would have lowered the top income tax rate from 5.25 to 4.75percent over 2 years

    Revenue-Neutral: lost revenue fully offset by eliminating thesales tax relief credit, child/child care tax credit, earned incometax credit and economic development incentives; limitedeligibility for personal exemption

    Increased taxes for one-third of Oklahomans and shifted more

    of tax load onto middle-income and low-income households

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    The Challenges We Face

    The 2012 Tax Debate

    OCPA/Laffer Plan (HB 3038/SB 1571)

    Immediately lowered top income tax rate from 5.25 to 3.5percent

    Top rate automatically reduced each year until total elimination(2022) (amended versions included triggers for future cuts)

    Eliminated ALL deductions, exemptions and credits, including:

    Standard deduction, personal exemption

    Low-income credits

    All business income tax credits

    Floor substitutes restored exemptions for retirement income,Social Security benefits, veterans income, military pay

    Huge revenue loss while raising taxes for almost half ofhouseholds

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    The Challenges We Face

    The 2012 Tax Debate

    Governor Fallins Proposal (HB 3061)

    Governors Oklahoma Tax Reduction and Simplification Plan:

    No tax on those making $35k/$70K

    Taxes ALL income at same ratecreates a tax cliff

    Eliminates itemized deductions, low-income credits, deductionsfor retirement and military income, and almost all economicdevelopment credits

    Tax cut for most but increase for low- and moderate-incomefamilies with children and seniors.

    Fiscal impact in first full year of $350 million

    Further cuts in the top income tax rate in future years wheneverrevenues rise > 5 percent until income tax is completely eliminated.

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    The Challenges We Face

    The 2012 Tax Debate

    The Final Agreement/Disagreement

    Governor, Speaker, Pro Tem announced tax cut deal just prior tofinal week of session:

    Top rate reduced immediately from 5.25 to 4.8 percent

    Trigger to reduce rate to 4.5 percent based on revenue growth

    Revenue losses partially offset by limiting eligibility forpersonal exemption (to families below $70,000, individualsbelow $35,000); limiting itemized deductions, eliminatingsome business tax incentives

    Fiscal impact of $33 million in FY 13, $102 million in FY 14

    Tax increase for 24 percent of filers House leadership refused to let bill get heard by full House

    Senate rejected last-minute House plan

    Governor opted against special session

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    The Challenges We Face

    A Fiscally Responsible CourseHow do we create a revenue structure that meets our obligations?

    Review and reduce tax credit programs:

    Income tax, gross production tax credits

    Adopt combined corporate reporting

    Limit itemized income tax deductions

    Modernize the sales tax:

    Expand sales tax base to some additional services

    Pursue collection of online sales through click-through/affiliate programs

    Target any tax relief towards those in greatest need:

    Increase the personal exemption

    Stretch and index tax brackets

    Expand the grocery tax credit or earned income tax credit

    Adopt pay-go requirement for tax cuts and new spending

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    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    Limit Tax Credit Programs

    Tax credits should adhere to the following standards:

    Formal eligibility process for businesses applying for credits

    Clear performance standards regarding investment and/or

    job creation, with consequences for failing to meet targets

    Full disclosure of how credits are allocated

    Sunset provisions, with reauthorization tied to aperformance review

    Limit state liability through caps on amounts that can be

    claimed subject to annual legislative authority

    Gross production tax credits should be limited or eliminated

    The Challenges We Face

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    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    Limit Itemized Income Tax Deductions

    Itemized deductions mostly benefit upper-income households

    Several options could be considered:

    Repeal itemized deductions while increasing the standard

    deduction available to all families, OR

    Cap the total value of itemized deductions, OR

    Convert deductions to a credit as a set amount of selectedfederal deductions, OR

    Do away with the deduction for state income tax payments

    Could generate $100 million to $115 million in new revenue

    Additional state tax liability would be partly offset by reducedfederal tax liability

    The Challenges We Face

    C

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    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    Modernize the Sales Tax

    Expand the sales tax base to cover selected services

    Oklahoma currently taxes only 32 of 168 potentiallytaxable services

    Taxing services is needed to maintain the long-termadequacy of the sales tax and make the sales tax moreeconomically fair and rational

    Should be careful to exclude services consumed primarilyby businesses to avoid pyramiding

    Do away with sales tax exemptions benefitting favoredindustries

    Pursue collection of online sales throughclick-through/affiliate programs

    Combine these measures with ending the sales tax on groceries

    The Challenges We Face

    Th Ch ll W F

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    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    Provide Broad-Based Income Tax Cuts

    If tax cuts are on the table, increasing the personal exemptionand stretching income tax brackets would assist morehouseholds and distribute benefits more broadly than furthercuts to the top rate

    Personal exemption has remained unchanged at $1,000 perperson since 1982

    Failure for decades to index income tax brackets:

    Seven brackets all narrowly squeezed together

    Bracket creep56 percent of taxpayers now reach thetop bracket; a much greater share of income is taxedat the highest level

    The Challenges We Face

    Th Ch ll W F

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    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    Adopt Pay-Go Requirement

    Ensure that fiscal balance is maintained by requiring that taxcuts be fully offset with:

    New revenues

    Elimination of tax breaks

    Identified spending cuts

    New spending obligations would have to be paid for withadditional revenues or cuts to other services

    Current services budget and long-term budget forecasting would

    also help policymakers make sustainable budget choices

    The Challenges We Face

    Th Ch ll W F

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    A Fiscally Responsible Course

    Make smarter expenditure decisions:

    Consolidate duplicative agencies and streamline services

    Prioritize prevention and surveillance

    Ensure adequate funding of public pensions

    Give control for making decisions about revenues and spendingback to our elected representatives

    The Challenges We Face

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    For More Information

    Updated Budget Information okpolicy.org/current-budget-information

    Tax Policy Information

    http://okpolicy.org/tax-reform-information

    Stay informed and get engaged

    http://okpolicy.org/take-action Join the Together OK group on Facebook

    St C t d

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