Karen Woodall discusses Florida's tax system: what's wrong, what's being done
The Human Services Coalition is gearing up for its third Imagine Miami Changemaker Conference, to be held November 6 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Temple Israel in downtown Miami. The conference's title, "Show Us the Money: for Education, for Health Care, for Human Needs" conveys the driving message behind the event: Florida's tax structure and budget management strategy needs to be tackled to preserve and improve quality of life in the state.
To address this topic we are pleased to have Karen Woodall of the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy come and share her expertise. Recently, HSC staff member Caitlin MacLaren spoke with Woodall to discuss her background in tax reform and her beliefs about our current system.
How long have you been involved in advocacy around tax reform?
Since 1985.
What would you consider your or Florida's greatest achievement in this arena?
Originally, it was adoption of the service tax in 1987. But it was short lived...the legislature repealed it after two months. It extended the sales tax to a number of services that are currently excluded. Florida would have had more revenue and we would have had a less regressive tax structure with a broader base of people paying into the system. We wouldn't have the problems we have today.
What are today's obstacles?
We have to modernize our tax structure because we haven't reformed it since the 1940's. Our ability to collect revenue has not kept pace with our growth nor has it kept pace with the need for quality services, i.e. healthcare, senior citizens. We've also continued an unfair tax structure for Florida that has put Florida-based businesses at competitive disadvantage compared to multi-state businesses through loopholes in corporate income tax.
Have you encountered a person or situation that put a real face on your work or put it into perspective?
Every session, we fight for funding for fundamental needs for senior citizens, for people with disabilities, for people living below the poverty line, while the legislature gives out $24.7 million a year to subsidize sports teams and facilities. But we have to continue to fight for eye wear, hearing aids and dentures for people living below the poverty line. |
