Tax increases imminent?
Monday, March 9th, 2009 by Michael C. Bender
People wait to talk on an unemployment benefits hotline. The darkest days for the job market are likely still to come, most analysts say. (AP Photo)
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State lawmakers say they’ve been painted into a corner on the tax issue this year.
Gov. Charlie Crist has spent the past several weeks saying economic-stimulus money from Congress will cover budget shortfalls, which some believe is an implicit threat to veto tax increases.
Meanwhile, many legislators say the revolt over high property taxes from two years ago has been largely replaced by constituents pleading for fewer cuts to education and health services. They may not be able to keep some services whole without finding new revenue sources.
So the question is: Can lawmakers make it through the 2009 session without increasing taxes?
If not, what are the most politically-palatable places to look for revenue? If so, what should they do to make up any budget hole not covered by stimulus money?
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