Show Taxes Multiply Rapidly State and local taxes across the nation have been Increasing Increasing increasing ing more than twice as fast as the overall growth in the economy since the end of World War II This conclusion was Wlas reached in a current Utah Foundation study of taxes and tax trends According to the study state and local taxes in the US U.S. increased per cent between 1946 and 1962 compared with witha a rise of only per cent in inthe inthe inthe the net national product during during during dur dur- ing this same period Foundation analysts point out that the sharp rise in state and local taxes during recent years has generated increased taxpayer resistance whenever the issue of a tax hike is plainly presented to the pub pub- lic The report observes that tax increases passed by legislatures legislatures legislatures legis legis- in hi three states North Dakota Nevada and Oregon this year were later invalidated ted by the voters at special referendum elections Most American families now spend more for taxes than for any of the basic necessities of life according to the report Total tax collections federal state and local throughout the US U.S. in 1962 amounted to billion By comparison Americans spent 74 billion for food 47 billion for housing and 36 billion for clothing and accessories last year The study notes that while part of the tax outlay is paid directly by individuals and families much of it is hidden and included in hi the cost of goods and services purchased Approximately one half ol of all state and local taxes in Utah tare pare paid by individuals and andone andone andone one half by business and industry in in- Utah relies more heavily heavily heavily ily on business taxes than most of the other states The Utah Foundation study analyzes the Impact of state and local property income and sales taxes in the principal principal principal pal cities located in the Mountain Mountain Mountain Moun Moun- tain States Utah along with Arizona Colorado and New Mexico are the four Mountain Mountain Mountain Moun Moun- tain States utilizing all three of these maj major r taxes in their respective state and local tax structures Nevada and Wyoming Wyoming Wyoming Wyo Wyo- ming do not Impose an Income tax while Idaho and Montana have no sales tax The study concludes that the overall average property sales and income tax burden for a atypical atypical typical family is slightly higher high high- er in Utah cities than in th the theother other major Mountain States cities The study also observes however that because of Utah diversified tax base the impact Impact Impact Im im- Im- Im pact on any anyone one particular tax source Is not excessive when compared with that of other cities and states In general the report notes that the relative state sand and local local local lo lo- lo- lo cal tax burden in Utah and the West Vest is somewhat above that of the nation as a whole During 1961 total state and local taxes as a percentage of personal income amounted to per cent in Utah compared compared compared com com- pared with per cent for forthe forthe forthe the eight Mountain States and 10 4 per cent for all fifty states in the US U.S. |