House budget proposal puts Louisiana at great risk
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House budget proposal puts Louisiana at great risk Read More »
Poverty & Inequity
Reduced funding, low salaries put state’s most vulnerable children at risk
The department’s staffing has been reduced by more than 2,500 since 2008 – and many of those who are left have gone years without a pay raise. The average annual salary at the department is $44,349. That’s $5,317 less than the average DCFS salary in FY 2008 when accounting for inflation.
Reduced funding, low salaries put state’s most vulnerable children at risk Read More »
NEW LBP REPORT: Fund diversions erode Louisiana’s safety net
In the two decades since the federal government overhauled America’s welfare system, Louisiana has steadily diverted money meant to help struggling families gain economic security.
NEW LBP REPORT: Fund diversions erode Louisiana’s safety net Read More »
The State of Working Louisiana 2015
After years of decline and stagnation, the median wage in Louisiana rose 39 cents from 2012 to 2014 to $15.63 an hour, and Louisiana added 54,000 jobs over that time. More Louisianans had jobs than ever before, and wages for women gained ground on their male counterparts.
Unfortunately, that is where the good news ends.
The State of Working Louisiana 2015 Read More »
Taxing the Poor
The “Who Pays?” report shows once again that the poorer you are in Louisiana, the higher your tax rate. This is not only unfair, it also acts as a drag on the overall economy. Luckily, there are steps that policymakers can take to change this imbalance.
Louisiana Taxes Hit Poor and Middle Class Far Harder Than the Wealthy
Low‐ and middle‐income families in Louisiana pay a far higher share of their income in state and local taxes than do the richest families in Louisiana, according to a new national study by the Washington DC‐based Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy (ITEP).
The main reason for the unfairness of Louisiana taxes is the state’s reliance on sales and excise taxes, which fall disproportionately on the most vulnerable families, and the state’s reliance on property taxes. Because lower income households tend to spend a higher percentage of their income on purchases, they end up paying a higher share of their income in taxes too. The exception is the state income tax, where rates rise with income. It’s the only tax based on the ability to pay, but Louisiana doesn’t rely on its income tax enough to make up for the impact of the other taxes on low‐ and middle‐income households.
Louisiana Taxes Hit Poor and Middle Class Far Harder Than the Wealthy Read More »
