In reading Sunday’s front page article by James Brooks — “House considers new version of income tax” — regarding HB 115 to erase our $2.7 billion annual deficit in three years, I was rather stunned to find the entire second paragraph consisted of one short sentence. “You’ll pay for part of it.”
I am a citizen of the state of Alaska. As such, I am fully aware that individual responsibility and social responsibility are inseparable. My tax contributions, whether they be at the federal, state, or municipal level, are investments in the common good of the community of which I am a member. Through those tax contributions I am purchasing better public health, better public education for our children, public transportation, public infrastructure, police protection and support, public access to drinking water, and hopefully adequate food and housing for all of us including those in need.
Meanwhile, the news advises me of the struggles of the municipality of CBJ, the municipal school board and Bartlett Regional Hospital to deal with projected federal and state cuts that will hurt their budgets and hinder their capacity to deliver the needed public services they provide.
Further down the front page of Sunday’s Juneau Empire I found an article entitled “House advances budget, 4 other bills to Senate”, which advises me that the Senate Finance Committee will be considering a 5 percent cut from the state’s budget — money that will come in predominantly from the state’s biggest spenders: Transportation, education, health and the University of Alaska. These are the very areas I want to contribute to my community, not the areas I want to be cut.
As community members, we have a social responsibility to support the common good. Taxation is the vehicle through which that support is properly facilitated.
Of course I will “pay for part of it” and will consider it a good buy, well worth the cost. I strongly support HB 115 and applaud their graduated income tax approach to addressing our budget deficit.
Bill Dillon,
Juneau