Saturday, April 17, 2010

California Budget Crisis Diaries: Poor Californians pay more taxes | San Diego Gay & Lesbian News

California Budget Crisis Diaries: Poor Californians pay more taxes | San Diego Gay & Lesbian News

California Budget Crisis Diaries: Poor Californians pay more taxes


It’s a study-heavy California Budget Crisis Diaries entry. First there are studies from the California Budget Project, then there’s a study by The Associated Press — both are sure to make you ponder the $20 billion-plus budget hole further.
Let’s start with the study on taxes for your April 15th round-up.
Poor pay more in taxes: Are Californians who are earning the least amount of income paying more in taxes? Apparently.
According to an article by San Bernardino’s The Sun, a California Budget Project report shows California’s poorest pay more than California’s richest.
“The state’s decision to increase tax liability has especially hit hardest at the poorest 20 percent of California families.
According to the report, the dependent tax credit — the tax credit claimed by families with children or other dependents — was cut last year from $309 to $98, which in turn lowered the income level at which families with children begin to pay income taxes.
‘In 2009, for example, a family of four with two children began to pay income taxes when their income reached $36,325. In 2008, that threshold was $51,335,’ according to the report.”
Need more examples? The Sun reporter goes on:
“The CPB report said the state’s poorest non-elderly families, with an average income of $13,200, spent 11.1 percent of