The governor and top legislative leaders met for three hours on Monday discussing next year's budget, during which several elected officials pushed for relief for Oklahoma taxpayers. We believe that's an excellent goal, but their proposals won't deliver on their promises.
The tax relief that lawmakers need to be talking about is modernizing the Sales Tax Relief Credit. This important tax credit provides targeted relief to the everyday Oklahomans who need it most, while the top income earners continue to pay their share.
The two plans discussed on Monday were a .25% cut to the personal income tax rate or moving to a flat tax rate for all residents. However, these across-the-board cuts would deliver outsized benefits to the wealthy with pennies on the dollar for most folks, while a simple flat tax proposal would increase taxes for people in every tax bracket.
Lawmakers should be focusing on the most targeted and effective solution — modernizing the Sales Tax Relief Credit.
But they won't consider it unless they hear it from you.
Please take two minutes from your day and complete the easy-to-use form linked below, which includes an option to customize your message. This will let you send an email to your State Senator and State Representative to ask them to include modernization of the Sales Tax Relief Credit in the state budget negotiations.
