Mackinac Center takes a closer look at study regarding state and local tax incentives
The use of state and local tax incentives to businesses is on the minds of publications across the U.S. After a recent story published by the New York Times on the topic, the Mackinac Center for Public Policy took another look at what the information means for Michigan.
In a column, the center takes a look at how Michigan financially measures up and also breaks down myths surrounding the businesses that go through the process of applying for the tax breaks.
The column states businesses applying for the breaks are not the issue, the people handing out special deals are the problem — which is not always how it is perceived by the public.
The center has taken a firm stance to fight select tax incentives and breaks since their inception, and plan to continue working to do so.
To read the full report go here.
Comments
Tru2Blu76
Thu, Dec 6, 2012 : 6:01 p.m.
RE: "The use of state and local tax incentives to businesses is on the minds of publications across the U.S." -- someone had better turn off their snooze alarm, as least during times when they're supposed to be writing coherent sentences. Just sayin' - "publications" have no minds, they're publications (usually for profit) in the communications media. Also RE: "The Mackinac Center for Public Policy is an American free market think tank headquartered in Midland, Michigan. It is the USA's largest state-based free market think tank." So we have an unauthorized (pro Free Market) "think tank" doing our thinking for us, is that right?? Lately, "pro Free Market" has become synonymous with deciding in favor of the Executive Class, even when the Executive Class "misbehaves" and brings down the US economy and damages the world economy. So the term "Free Market" (Laissez Faire, etc.) has also come to mean: let them do whatever the heck they want, so long as it enriches them. Why am I less-than-reassured by this "news"?? Why am I less-than-confident that the "conclusions" reached by this "mighty think tank" will produce positive results for Michigan?? What am I missing here? Could it be, you know, something like REAL INFORMATION?? Now where was I? Oh, yeah, about journalistic integrity... um, just forget I brought it up.
Cash
Thu, Dec 6, 2012 : 1:41 p.m.
Isn't it odd how all we hear from the media is about ENTITLEMENTS....referring to social security, Medicare, etc......but they don't mention the corporate entitlements? Corporate entitlements should be EARNED not be gifts. Race to the Bottom......we let our citizens fall behind while giving their hard earned money to companies with no measurement of contributions back to the taxpayers. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/opinion/race-to-the-bottom.html?ref=opinion
bobslowson
Thu, Dec 6, 2012 : 1:39 p.m.
I'll be honest...I only read the headline and stopped when I saw who this "opinion" piece was coming from.
Val
Thu, Dec 6, 2012 : 3:44 a.m.
No company pays taxes. The tax is passed on to the consumer in the price of the product and then the company can take all of the deductions allowed. Who picks up the taxes when a company gets a tax abatement? The consumer does through higher taxes to pay for the abatement. The tax shortfall must be made up somewhere. The worst kind of tax is the property tax since it is based on the value of the property set by an assessor who has a political interest in keeping the value of the property high so more taxe can be collected. Property taxes are EVIL because a person mutst pay them even when they have lost the means to pay them due to lost income. A person doesn't pay the tax the government comes along and kicks that person out of their home even if they have lived there for 50 years. Try not paying your propety taxes and see what happens. Europeans have this right, no property taxes.
bobfromaccttemps
Mon, Dec 10, 2012 : 2:37 p.m.
All companies pay tax. As with all expenses they get passed on to the consumers. Consumers then have the choice to purchase the product or not depending on price and other factors. I find the vast majority of assessors are pretty fair when it comes to value and you always have the right to appeal if you feel your value is too high. Most people don't understand the valuation process and just gripe because they have been told they pay too much tax. Sit in on a board of review sometime, quite entertaining.
tom swift jr.
Thu, Dec 6, 2012 : 1:33 a.m.
Using the Mackinac Center as a source is absurd. Their data or opinions are not impartial, nor are their viewpoints in the best interest of the citizens of this state.
snapshot
Thu, Dec 6, 2012 : 7:11 p.m.
Are there ANY impartial opinions? You don't seem to be too impartial yourself. So what we have is only "self serving special interest factions" competing to have their own agendas impemented into "law" and forced upon the "opposition". Your use of the word "absurd" is designed to enhance your "special interest" to be heard over another special interest. So what makes you any "less absurd" as an information "source"?
Epengar
Thu, Dec 6, 2012 : 1:17 a.m.
I don't think the Mackinac Center is capable of being critical of corporations. They won't bite the hand that feeds them.
ChrisW
Wed, Dec 5, 2012 : 11:43 p.m.
Lower the rates, simplify the system, and level the playing field by treating all companies the same. I doubt either political party will really support the elimination of tax breaks for the politically well-connected because that's how they get their campaign dollars -- selling influence.