Budget/Tax 4/9

Use these policy treats to ward off scary tricksters

Jason Mercier

Oct 30, 20231 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Use these policy treats to ward off scary tricksters

These policy treats will be more effective than full-sized candy bars (and cheaper too).

Wyoming and Montana make the top five in Tax Foundation’s 2024 State Business Tax Climate Index

Jason Mercier

Oct 24, 20232 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Wyoming and Montana make the top five in Tax Foundation’s 2024 State Business Tax Climate Index

Taxes are one of the ways states compete with each other in our federalist system.

Protect taxpayers by putting supermajority for tax increase requirements in state constitution

Jason Mercier

Oct 23, 20233 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Protect taxpayers by putting supermajority for tax increase requirements in state constitution

Sending voters a supermajority for tax increases constitutional amendment is a prudent thing for policymakers to do.

MSPC joins national brief encouraging SCOTUS review of WA’s capital gains tax

Jason Mercier

Oct 17, 20233 min read

BUDGET/TAX

MSPC joins national brief encouraging SCOTUS review of WA’s capital gains tax

A decision by SCOTUS on whether to accept the case is expected sometime this winter.

Do you know who you are paying taxes to? A tax transparency website would help

Jason Mercier

Oct 16, 20233 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Do you know who you are paying taxes to? A tax transparency website would help

We are hopeful that policymakers in the Mountain States will remove the mystery surrounding taxation by adopting a tax transparency website.

U.S. Supreme Court considers tax case of the century

Olivia Johnston

Oct 4, 20234 min read

BUDGET/TAX

U.S. Supreme Court considers tax case of the century

Is the U.S. Supreme Court posed to slam the door shut on efforts by some to impose wealth taxes across the country? We may soon find out.

Wyoming’s fiscal process – An interview with the State Budget Department

Jason Mercier

Oct 2, 20234 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Wyoming’s fiscal process – An interview with the State Budget Department

Here is my interview with Kevin Hibbard, Director of Wyoming’s State Budget Department, on the state’s fiscal process.

MSPC meets with Montana Governor Gianforte

Jason Mercier

Sep 20, 20231 min read

BUDGET/TAX

MSPC meets with Montana Governor Gianforte

Senior MSPC staff and a few board members had the opportunity to meet with Montana Governor Greg Gianforte this week.

Truth in Taxation improves property tax transparency

Jason Mercier

Sep 19, 20233 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Truth in Taxation improves property tax transparency

One way to help bring greater transparency to property tax increases is with a reform called Truth in Taxation.

Bring greater transparency to property taxes with Truth in Taxation

Jason Mercier

Sep 11, 20232 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Bring greater transparency to property taxes with Truth in Taxation

Policymakers should focus their property tax reform efforts on improving transparency and voter engagement with Truth in Taxation.

PILT debate - how much tax money is the public losing on public land?

Chris Cargill

Aug 29, 20232 min read

BUDGET/TAX

PILT debate - how much tax money is the public losing on public land?

More than 60% of land in Idaho is controlled by the federal government - meaning a loss of tax revenues for local government. How much...

These issues have to be addressed before adopting any mileage tax

Chris Cargill

Aug 18, 20232 min read

BUDGET/TAX

These issues have to be addressed before adopting any mileage tax

As gas prices surge, more drivers are looking at the electric vehicle market. Sometimes that makes economic sense, but depending on the...

Here are the states that charge the most gas tax

Chris Cargill

Aug 15, 20232 min read

TRANSPORTATION

Here are the states that charge the most gas tax

Americans are feeling a pain at the pump. But who is to blame for the higher prices? Government taxes and fees can make up a significant...

Montana’s fiscal process – An interview with the Office of Budget and Program Planning

Jason Mercier

Aug 14, 20234 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Montana’s fiscal process – An interview with the Office of Budget and Program Planning

Here is my interview with the Director for the Office of Budget and Program Planning (OBPP), on Montana’s fiscal process.

Which state will be the next to axe its income tax?

Chris Cargill

Jul 31, 20231 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Which state will be the next to axe its income tax?

Take a glance at tax policy across the nation and you'll notice an unmistakable trend - states are lowering or doing away with their...

More property tax relief possible this year in Idaho

Jason Mercier

Jul 20, 20233 min read

BUDGET/TAX

More property tax relief possible this year in Idaho

Now the focus will shift to local governments and if they allow taxpayers to receive the full amount of property tax relief.

Idaho’s fiscal process – An interview with the Division of Financial Management

Jason Mercier

Jul 18, 20233 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Idaho’s fiscal process – An interview with the Division of Financial Management

We are currently reviewing the fiscal process in the Mountain States to provide a resource comparing Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming

An income tax on capital gains won’t bring Wyoming revenue stability

Jason Mercier

Jul 10, 20232 min read

BUDGET/TAX

An income tax on capital gains won’t bring Wyoming revenue stability

Imposing taxes on capital gains income is not a recipe for predictable state revenue.

Tax relief (and increases) in the Mountain States

Jason Mercier

Jul 7, 20232 min read

BUDGET/TAX

Tax relief (and increases) in the Mountain States

Taxes continue to be reduced in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming while Washington is taking the opposite approach.

Is it time to modernize Idaho’s school funding model?

Jason Mercier

Jun 19, 20233 min read

EDUCATION

Is it time to modernize Idaho’s school funding model?

Schools may be on summer break but the education funding debate in Idaho continues to heat up.

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