Colorado voters had their say on tax increases last Tuesday. They overwhelmingly rejected tax increases to pay for schools.
Will that anti-tax sentiment continue today as more localities ask their residents to approve tax measures?
Voters in 42 school districts in the Cleveland-Akron, Ohio, area will decide on 44 tax issues. Most want the electorate's OK to increase taxes.
Georgia voters also will have their say on a variety of special purpose local option sales tax propositions. I love this acronym: SPLOST. Just reading it conjures up such an interesting, and messy, sound that perfectly fits any tax discussion.
New Jersey voters will decide whether to make sports betting legal if — and that's a big if — a federal ban on such gambling is ever lifted.
While not strictly a tax measure, legalized betting on athletic events certainly would increase tourism to the Garden State, allowing it to collect more in taxes from visitors who likely will spend at least some of their winnings on other things.
And it would help out Uncle Sam, too. More bets mean more potential winners and gambling proceeds are taxable.
A ballot initiative in Washington state would end state-run liquor stores and allow booze sales by private stores larger than 10,000 square feet.
With that space specification it's no surprise that Issaquah, Wash.-based big box store Costco has been a major contributor to the $22 million campaign to change the liquor sale law.
The side effects of the Evergreen State vote also could have tax implications.
People coming in to pick up some libations would mean more sales and more distilled spirit taxes collected. And don't forget that those shoppers might just buy other taxable goods, too.
Is your state, county or school district asking you to vote today on a tax issue? If so, please leave a comment letting us know what it is and your take on your local tax ballot question.
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