Heads and tales: Tax to grind

In comes tax: Alabama ranks in the bottom five again … in tax burdens for citizens. While that might be cause to celebrate for some, an antiquated tax system such as ours holds back needed services for Alabamians across the board, while shifting the burden to those least able to afford it. Like the rest of the nation, the state collected more per person in 2004 than 1994, a jump of 38 percent. Most of it goes to education. More data are available for all states.
• Alabama collecting 38 percent more taxes than in 1994 [Associated Press]

Roads to riches: Cities along Interstates 20 and 59 in St. Clair County have seen sales tax revenue explode from 2003 to 2005 — by as much as 50 percent. Development in the area is fueling the financial growth, even though several cities kept tax rates the same. The county has a one-cent sales tax for education, another for general purposes.
• Tax revenues soar in towns near I-20, I-59 [Birmingham News]

Do you like me? Yes No: The romantics of Birmingham have expressed themselves in short mash notes in time for that most romantic of holidays, Ferris Wheel Day. ([sniff] Where’s ours?) Here’s but a sampling: “Dear Fat Ass, You make my heart explode with love. Always, Your Wife p.s. We are out of paper towels.”
• Love Notes! [Birmingham Weekly]

Also:

• Museum field trip results in horseplay, shouting
• Secret of Bessemer smokehouse’s barbecue sauce? Thiamin hydrochloride
• Nickelback, Metallica take radio station’s playlist changes personally

• • •

Send us your news tips.

Posted: Wednesday, February 8, 2006, 7:38 pm, in Headlines.
For this entry: E-mail | comments feed | trackback.