Oklahoma's Tax Burden rank

[guido911]

Interesting article on Oklahoma's rank in the U.S. re: tax burden. Seems to contradict what we often hear about how high Oklahoma's tax burden is. I am sure that our alternative local media has an explanation, though. Afterall, Tulsa and Oklahoma sucks.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/pf/0704/gallery.tax_friendliest/8.html

[AVERAGE JOE]

quote:Originally posted by ricecake

* It's too bad that in what little taxes Oklahoma does collect compared to other states, lower to middle class Oklahomans pay a disproportionately higher amount - through sales taxes on basic neccessities like food and clothing.

* I thought low taxes were the 'yellow brick road' to prosperity. Based on it's ranking, Oklahoma should already be an economic juggernaut.  

* If the state were not collecting the Gross Production Tax on oil and gas, I'm sure Oklahoma would be battling for 48th or 49th place.

* ...and Oklahoma needs a TABOR? Let the more prosperous states try it first.

Good observations.

I thought this was interesting -- go to the page below:

Money Mag Best Places to Live 2006

Then go to the form on the right side of the page titled "Find your best place". Select "Very important" for the following categories:

Affordable housing                 
Plentiful leisure activities             
Plentiful cultural options             
Sunny weather             
Short commute time

Leave the other two options "Not important" and hit the search button.

Tulsa comes up #3 in the country.

If we could improve job growth and access to health care, we'd be set.

[guido911]

Way to go Joe, now people will think that Tulsa is not all that bad now. Can we please get back to complaining about the lottery and 2025? Focus people

[cannon_fodder]

Tax exemption's lead to more tax exemptions and more complex tax laws.  He who can lobby the hardest can get themselves exempted from taxes.

Not too mention, a tax exemption for clothing also exempts my $120 pair of Gucci jeans and my $600 Lou whoever vest.  Food would exempt my caviar and my lobster tail dinner.  If you try to restrict it - then we are again getting people lobbying to in/exclude things from the list.  Its a mess.

Anyway,I'd be interested in seeing the stats that say the poor people in Oklahoma pay more than their share.  I'm going to guess that, like everywhere else, the poor pay next to no taxes and may actually get PAID by the government for their troubles.  I always hear this mantra, and never see anything to back it up.

I'm also interested in hearing the other side of the coin.  How high taxes are an incentive to business activity.  I'm curious to see how that works.

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by AVERAGE JOE

quote:Originally posted by ricecake

* It's too bad that in what little taxes Oklahoma does collect compared to other states, lower to middle class Oklahomans pay a disproportionately higher amount - through sales taxes on basic neccessities like food and clothing.

* I thought low taxes were the 'yellow brick road' to prosperity. Based on it's ranking, Oklahoma should already be an economic juggernaut.  

* If the state were not collecting the Gross Production Tax on oil and gas, I'm sure Oklahoma would be battling for 48th or 49th place.

* ...and Oklahoma needs a TABOR? Let the more prosperous states try it first.

Good observations.

I thought this was interesting -- go to the page below:

Money Mag Best Places to Live 2006

Then go to the form on the right side of the page titled "Find your best place". Select "Very important" for the following categories:

Affordable housing                 
Plentiful leisure activities             
Plentiful cultural options             
Sunny weather             
Short commute time

Leave the other two options "Not important" and hit the search button.

Tulsa comes up #3 in the country.

If we could improve job growth and access to health care, we'd be set.

And with the metro area having another really good jobs report for last year with the number of employed up 3.5% and with Oklahoma ranking 8th in earning increase last year I would say if we can keep that up our "job growth" ranking will be just fine.

We just need more money for the OSU Medical Center, call your state rep!

Tulsa really could/should be soaring in these rankings very soon.

And now back to your regularly scheduling *****ing and moaning..........

[Conan71]

This is just all too much bad news for me to handle.  I think I will leave for my three day weekend now and when I come back, there better be some posts about how bleak the local economic outlook is.

[marc]

quote:Originally posted by guido911

Interesting article on Oklahoma's rank in the U.S. re: tax burden. Seems to contradict what we often hear about how high Oklahoma's tax burden is. I am sure that our alternative local media has an explanation, though. Afterall, Tulsa and Oklahoma sucks.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/pf/0704/gallery.tax_friendliest/8.html

Nice to hear some good news, although of course there are those who will spin any good news into bad news, especially if it pertains to Tulsa and Oklahoma.

RE cannon_fodder's post, I think poor people do pay taxes if they don't have children. A single person can have a pretty low wage job and still have to pay federal and state taxes. However, poor people with kids can often get some money back that they never paid in through EIC and such.