This negative economic impact is all too often overlooked as many Kansas public officials are heard complaining that the limited tax cuts enacted between 1995 and 1998 were too much. Recently legislative research looked at state spending growth. This expenditure limitation would have reduced the need for this state s high taxes. This is a huge figure since it is larger than all of the personal income taxes collected in this state last year. It is difficult to imagine how much stronger the Kansas economy would be if this large burden had not been in place for the last 25 years.
Economic growth occurs significantly faster in states with limited taxes.
The nine states without state personal income taxes are, on average, growing much faster than the other 41 states. The latest census figures report that our country s population is moving away from the high tax states and into states where taxes are lower and in most cases limited. Adding to the fiscal comparison is the fact that three of the four states surrounding Kansas have statewide tax or spending lids which make it harder to raise state and many local taxes. In these states the voters help determine tax increase issues or a legislative super-majority is required to raise taxes. Kansans do not have this form of protection from higher taxes.