ATRA in the News: Tax Reform
Kevin McCarthy of the Arizona Tax Research Association said Adams' advocacy was admirable, but his quick reaction to the flat tax's negative reception showed a well-tuned political ear.
According to the Arizona Tax Research Association, overall property-tax collections in the state have increased 42 percent in the past five years, nearly 8 percent in just the past year. Moreover, there's about to be great stress on government finance backed by the property tax, as residential values reset to reflect current market conditions.
But Kevin McCarthy, executive director of the Arizona Tax Research Association, said tax reform is just code for tax increases. "We shouldn't be coy about it," McCarthy said of tax overhauls. "If anybody's talking about it in this environment (of budget deficits), it's to raise taxes."