Shirley Ringo
A Moscow lawmaker is pushing for a 5 percent surcharge on the state personal income tax on Idahoans with taxable income over $50,000.
State Rep. Shirley Ringo, the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, is joined by Moscow economist Judy Brown in arguing that temporarily increasing taxes by $44 million is preferable to more cuts in public schools, higher education, public safety, health care and other services.
Under the proposal, a family of four earning $76,000 a year and taking the standard deduction would pay an annual surcharge of $162.
Ringo and Brown estimate the fiscal 2011 shortfall at $224 million, and they also propose spending $134 million in reserve funds to close the gap. (Idaho Statesman)
