Study: Rhode Island taxes 12th-highest in the nation in 2009
November 2nd, 2011 at 10:48 am by Ted Nesi under Nesi's Notes
Rhode Islanders pay the 12th-highest state and local taxes in the country by one measure, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data released this week.
The $7.5 billion in state and local taxes paid by Rhode Islanders in 2008-09 totaled 11% of their personal income, according to an analysis of Census data by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.
The tax level was higher than in 38 of the 50 states, and topped the national average of 10.4%. Massachusetts ranked 33rd with a tax-to-income rate of 9.8%. Alaska ranked first and South Dakota ranked last.
“Measuring taxes as a share of total personal income allows for a meaningful comparison among states,” the center said in a report, contrasting it with the methodology used by The Tax Foundation in Washington.
(chart: Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, modified by WPRI.com)
Tags: income, local government, massachusetts budget and policy center, state government, taxes
Nesi's Notes covers politics and the economy in and around Rhode Island for WPRI.com. (Twitter: 
Taxes in RI will have to increase when the decreased in State tax revenue from the elimination of the State and teacher retiree COLA is factored in.
No one discusses this but State and Teacher pensions are FULLY taxed by the State of RI. Not so in Massachusetts and other states.
So State retirees pay FULL state and federal taxes on their pensions, and eliminating the COLA for retirees will decrease State and Federal tax revenue, just when it is so needed on both levels
Wonder why none of the State leaders mention this!!!!!
So, lets’s increase Colas to 100% then state would be swimming in money right?