For Louisiana to reach its full potential, all of its citizens need access to high-performing schools, safe communities, good roads and public transportation, affordable health care, and a safety net in case they fall on hard times. Paying for these public services requires a tax structure that raises adequate revenue in ways that are both fair and sustainable.
Any discussion of tax policy should start with two fundamental questions: How much revenue do we need to raise? And who should we raise that revenue from? Unfortunately, Louisiana’s current tax structure falls short on adequacy, sustainability and fairness.
Louisiana’s current revenue structure is inadequate. When measured against the overall state economy, Louisiana’s state government footprint is smaller than most – typically in the bottom one-third. We see the results of this under-investment in the state budget. Even in the current year – when revenues are strong by historical measures – there are significant unmet needs across the state.