Sustainable Communities

• Metro-Area Economies: Don’t Uncross Those Fingers Just Yet
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   January 18, 2013
• Economists predict a return to steady economic growth in the latter half of this decade but said inaction on Capitol Hill could reverse that.

• States' New Target for Tax Increases: Seniors
• BY: Stateline   |   Nation   |   January 18, 2013
• Lawmakers are starting to wonder whether the tax breaks for seniors have become so generous that they threaten the sustainability of state revenue streams.
• 1 Comments

• Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Proposes Tax Hikes to Fund Education, Transportation
• Source: Boston Globe   |   Massachusetts   |   January 17, 2013
• Shrugging off the fiscal caution of recent years, Governor Deval Patrick proposed a $1.9 billion tax increase in his State of the Commonwealth address, saying it was necessary for the state to invest more in education and the state’s transportation network to “accelerate growth and expand opportunity.”
• 2 Comments

• Michigan Gov. Snyder Calls for Higher Gas Taxes
• Source: Detroit Free Press   |   Michigan   |   January 17, 2013
• Gov. Rick Snyder called for $1.2 billon in higher gas taxes to help repair the state's crumbling road infrastructure in his third State of the State address, setting up what is sure to be a tough fight for both public support and votes in the Legislature.
• 6 Comments

• GOP Governors Look to Reshape, Abolish Taxes
• Source: USA Today   |   Nation   |   January 14, 2013
• Republican governors are introducing bold proposals that would abolish income taxes, business taxes and other unpopular levies and often offset those cuts by boosting sales taxes.

• Illinois' Credit Rating Takes a Hit After Pension Reform Fails
• Source: Chicago Tribune   |   Illinois   |   January 14, 2013
• The state now has an outlook known as "rating watch negative," which could make it more expensive for the state to borrow money. Only California is below Illinois among states on this rating firm's list.

• Washington, D.C., Tops List of Top 10 Cities for Tech Growth
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   January 11, 2013
• Silicon Valley? That is so 1995. As it turns out, other metropolitan areas across the country are kicking some Bay Area rear when it comes to tech job growth since the millennium.

• Cloud Computing Taxes at Issue in Idaho and Elsewhere
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Idaho   |   January 11, 2013
• Fast-changing technology has created gray areas in tax laws across the country. Businesses and lawmakers are sparring over whether commercial use of remote computer software and servers should be taxed.

• Rick Perry: New York's Cuomo Envies Texas Economy
• Source: AP/Houston Chronicle   |   Texas   |   January 11, 2013
• Gov. Perry said Texas' pro-business and limited regulatory environment has the state's economy humming, while some other parts of the country struggle.

• Santa Clara Weighing Benefits of Hosting a Super Bowl
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Santa Clara, Calif.   |   January 11, 2013
• Local officials began weighing whether the city can still make money from a Super Bowl after stomaching a new list of financial demands from the NFL.

• U.S. Chamber Chief Calls for Higher Gas Tax
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   January 10, 2013
• The nation’s top business advocate said Thursday it was time for the federal government to “quit fooling around” with funding the transportation trust that fuels many state and local infrastructure projects and called for an increase in the gas tax.
• 2 Comments

• Will Labor Secretary Solis Return to Local Government?
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Nation   |   January 10, 2013
• Former legislator and congresswoman Hilda Solis is stepping down -- a move seen as a potential step to a bid for L.A. County's Board of Supervisors.

• Personal Property Tax on Idaho Governor's Chopping Block
• Source: AP/Idaho Statesman   |   Idaho   |   January 8, 2013
• Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter proposed eliminating Idaho's personal property tax, a move that would cost $141 million in tax revenue but provide a boost to business leaders who say the tax is a drag on the economy.

• Tax Incentives Only Part of Picture for State Business Climates
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   January 4, 2013
• States each year dole out billions in incentives and tax breaks for businesses, but those that spend the most aren't necessarily winning the end game, some experts say.

• Fiscal Cliff Deal a Mixed Bag for State, Local Leaders
• BY: Ryan Holeywell   |   January 3, 2013
• Scheduled automatic spending cuts, while delayed, still mean uncertainty for some key programs.
• 2 Comments