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Show Tan burden in Utah moderate compared to major U. $. cities signable to particular local Ities. According to the report, the major reason for the lower total tax burden in the Utah cities compared with the 30 largest U.S. cities is the moderate mod-erate property tax imposed in most of Utah localities. The property tax is the largest single element in the overall state and local tax burden, accounting for 50 or more of the total at most income levels in the U.S. cities. Following Fol-lowing is a sumary showing the tax burden for a family of four in the 12 Utah cities tax in Utah is well above the 30-US city average. The foundation study also points out that state and local lo-cal tax burdens in the 30 lar-gest lar-gest US. cities tend to be slightly regressive that is lower income families pay a higher percent burden than do the upper income families. In the Utah cities, however, the overall tax burden is somewhat progressive. For ex. ample, direct state and local taxes in Utah cities average 7.7 of Income at the $5,0000 income level, compared with 8.2 at the $25,000 income level. The average tax burden for families and individuals in Utah Js moderate when compared com-pared with that found in the 30 largest cities of the United States. This was reported by the Utah Foundation, the private pri-vate tax research organization in an analysis of tax burdens in major US. and Utah cities. Foundation analysts emphasize, em-phasize, however, that taxes in smaller communities such as the Utah cities included in the study generally are lower than they are in the larger metropolitan areas which characterize other states. The Utah cities included in-cluded in the comparison range in population from 12,539 to 175,885, while the 30 U. S. cities range from 448,877 to 7,895,563. Included in the analysis were state and local Income taxes, property taxes, general sales or gross receipts taxes, and the various taxes levied on automobile ownership and usage. These are the major direct taxes paid by most families and individuals. The study notes that in addition to these direct taxes, families and Individuals also pay Indirect In-direct taxes which are hidden In the cost of goods and services ser-vices that they purchase. These, however, are not as- and the 30 VS. cities at the $10,00 income level.: 12UT 30 US Diff. Cities Cities Ut.-US In. Tax $162 $169 $ -7 Pr. Tax 328 519 -191 Sal Tax 211 158 53 Aut Tax 103 81 22 Total $305 $927 $122 From the forgoing, it may be noted that the property tax in Utah cities is well below be-low the 30 US. city average, while the sales tax and the automotive taxes In Utah are above the U.S. average. At the $10,000 Income level, the Utah income tax (under the new law) also is slightly below be-low the average of the other VS.. cities. Ot higher income levels, however, the Income The report notes that there is a wide variation In the tax burden among the major cities cit-ies of the nation. A family of four living In Boston, 'Milwau-kee, 'Milwau-kee, or New York, for example would pay three or four times as much state and local taxes than would a similar family residing in Jacksonville, Houston, Hou-ston, or Dallas. Among the 12 Utah cities included In the comparison, the highest tax burdens are found in Salt Lake City and Ogden with the lowest overall burdens in Brigham City and Logan. The variation among the 12 Utah cities, however, is not as great as it Is for the 30 VS. cities. |