Permanent income tax reductions went into effect in Kentucky on Jan. 1.
Some residents said they are concerned about the effects the cuts will have on education, affordable housing and public services.
House Bill 8, passed last year, reduces the state’s income tax rate by 0.5%.
Seth Littrell, communications specialist for United Campus Workers of Kentucky, is among critics of the move, and thinks the General Assembly should instead use its budget surplus, largely padded by pandemic-era federal funding, to boost services for the public’s benefit.
”We’re talking about better road conditions, we’re talking about public projects, we’re talking about libraries, we’re talking about schools,” Littrell outlined. “These are things that every Kentucky family uses and needs.”
According to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, the permanent tax cuts disproportionately benefit the state’s wealthiest residents. Supporters argued the cuts will make Kentucky more competitive for attracting businesses, and will put more money into workers’ pockets.
Darrell Parker, a Hazard resident, said he sees firsthand how dwindling public resources have affected communities in eastern Kentucky. He believes housing for those coping with the flood disaster should be a priority for state lawmakers.
”There’s still people living in trailers now,” Parker noted. “The housing crisis is at an all-time high, that and transportation in our area. And of course, the flood didn’t help with any of that, just made it worse.”
Annette Hines, co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit group Appalachian GameChangers, pointed out affordable housing is increasingly out of reach for low-income Kentuckians. She is worried tax cuts will continue to shrink public funds available for helping families and worsen homelessness.
”And they live in public housing, and they can’t afford to pay the rent there, even in public housing,” Hines emphasized. “I’ve got people that have HUD vouchers and Appalachian Housing vouchers, and they can’t find houses, because there’s no homes.”
According to the Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky, one in four households in the state pays more than 30% of their income toward housing, including homeowners. And among low-income renters, six in 10 pay more than half of their income for housing.
--30--
Written by Nadia Ramlagan, and provided by Kentucky News Connection.
Comments
