Archive for February 2022
States continue to reduce taxes
States have not slowed down in their quest to lower tax rates a year after we saw a dozen states take action. The latest is Iowa, which will drastically reduce its top income tax rate from 8.53 percent, one of the highest rates in the country, to a 3.9 percent flat rate by 2026. Here’s…
Read More“Teaching was always what I loved to do”
The passion to teach runs through the veins of Keeba Smith of Laurel. “I come from a family of educators,” she said, “my mom taught for 27 years. My aunt was a teacher and so are my two sisters. It runs in the family.” But Keeba ran from a career in education early on, she…
Read MoreMississippi legislature: Week 8 recap
The legislature dealt with the deadline to move on appropriations and revenue bills this week, which was highlighted by the Senate’s tax relief proposal. Senate Bill 3146 passed the Senate on Wednesday. The proposal would phase out the 4 percent tax bracket, lower grocery taxes to 5 percent, offer a $3.50-$5 break on car tags,…
Read MoreSenate adopts their own tax relief proposal
A month after the Mississippi House advanced a plan to eliminate the income tax, the Mississippi Senate has passed a smaller package of tax cuts. Senate Bill 3164, which cleared the Senate today, will phase out the 4 percent tax bracket, lower grocery taxes to 5 percent, offer a $3.50-$5 break on car tags, and…
Read MoreAnother path to income tax repeal
In the classic children’s story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the title character finds herself in a situation of testing three bowls of porridge, three chairs, and three beds to find the one that works for her. One bowl of porridge is too hot, one too cold. One chair is too big, one chair is…
Read MoreYes, we can afford to eliminate the income tax
The number one question we receive about proposals to eliminate the income tax is whether the state can afford to do so. What people generally mean when they ask that question is whether the tax could be eliminated in such a way as to not negatively impact core functions of government. As I hope to…
Read MoreEmpower releases new video as part of income tax elimination campaign
Empower Mississippi released a new video that is running on social media in support of income tax repeal proposals moving in the legislature. Under House Bill 531, the mechanism for repeal begins by raising the personal exemptions to $37,700 for single workers and $75,400 for married workers. The remainder of the income tax elimination would…
Read More“As teachers, we were teaching to the test”
“To walk away is the most difficult decision a teacher can ever make,” Crystal McKinnis said quietly of her decision to leave the profession – a profession that continues to hold her heart – after 11 years in the classroom. Crystal, a Jackson native, started as a “reluctant teacher” she described. “There was a lady…
Read MoreHome-based business provides new career for entrepreneur
Freedom in her career is what led Jolie Freeman to her house in Magee where she works as a home-based travel agent for her company Southern Baggage Travel. Jolie is an independent contractor and works with a number of companies planning trips for her clients. “I love being able to help people plan their vacations,”…
Read MoreMississippi legislature: Week 7 recap
After a rush of action over the past two weeks to pass bills out of committee and then clear them off the floor so they could be sent to the other chamber, the legislature took a step back this week and began working on revenue and appropriations bills. All revenue and appropriations bills must pass…
Read MoreEmpower relaunches Mississippi School Finder
This week, Empower Mississippi relaunched the Mississippi School Finder website with a number of updates to help parents find the best educational setting for their child. The newly updated site includes a mobile-friendly version, more school, district, and community details, greater interactivity, a school rating system, and a statewide Options Index. “We know finding the…
Read MoreExpanding education pluralism to the other 99 percent
I noted the painfully gradual pace of charter school openings in Mississippi in a previous post. Charter schools benefit students and families by providing proximate options that vary meaningfully and have available seats. Educators likewise benefit from being able to open public schools that follow their vision of a high-quality education, but a single school…
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