One of the most important functions of government is to maintain a high-quality public education system. In many states, however, this objective is being undermined by tax policies that redirect public dollars for K-12 education toward private schools.
Publications
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report May 17, 2017 Public Loss Private Gain: How School Voucher Tax Shelters Undermine Public Education
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report September 17, 2015 Low Tax for Whom?: South Dakota is a “Low Tax State” Overall, But Not for Families Living in Poverty
Annual data from the U.S. Census Bureau appear to lend support to South Dakota’s reputation as a “low tax state,” ranking it 51st nationally in taxes collected as a share of personal income, the lowest overall tax state.1 But focusing on the state’s overall tax revenues has led many observers to overlook the fact that different taxpayers experience South Dakota’s tax system very differently. In particular, the poorest 20 percent of South Dakota residents pay significantly more of their income (11.3 percent) in state and local taxes than any other group in the state. For low-income families, South Dakota is far from being a low tax state.2 In fact, only eleven states tax their poorest residents more heavily than South Dakota.
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report September 19, 2013 South Dakota is a “Low Tax State” Overall, But Not for Families Living in Poverty
Read the Report in PDF Form See all “Low Tax for Who?” states New data from the Census Bureau lend support to South Dakota’s reputation as a “low tax state,”…