The 2021 Louisiana Survey finds 54-percent of adult residents feel the state sales tax is too high and the majority want neither spending cuts nor tax increases. Policy Lab Research Director Mike Henderson said not only is it a majority that feels the sales tax is too high but a majority among the two major parties.
“Most Democrats think it’s too high at 53%, versus 39% who said it’s about right, and just 4% said it’s too low. But when you go to Republicans even more said that it’s too high, 61% of Republicans,” said Henderson.
The current state sales tax is 4.45%
When residents were asked if they pay their fair share of state taxes 52-percent said yes and 41-percent said they are paying too much. Henderson said they also asked if they feel others are paying their fair share of taxes and most believe other income levels are.
“It’s really not until you ask about higher-income folks, where about half the people said higher-income folks are paying less than their fair share and a little more than that, 56% said large businesses are paying less than their fair share,” said Henderson.
Henderson said a majority of those surveyed said they do not want to see spending cuts in six areas, elementary and secondary education; higher education; health care; roads and bridges; prisons; and public assistance programs.
“And in fact, in two of the areas, transportation, and K-12 education the majority actually said they actually want more spending,” said Henderson.
781 adult residents were surveyed in the state from January 4th to March 1st.
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