Did every single tax increase in the state pass yesterday?

[sroz]

Wasn't 25M of that money to be returned to all taxpayers who file 2015 taxes? I know they kept referring to it as the marijuana tax, but was that just a clever way to sell it.

[GunsRBadMMMMKay]

How can you say that the tax solely belongs to the pot crowd ...............all other taxes taken are largely spent on and refunded to those who pay little to none into the cash pot but that's ok right? It is tax money, generated by commercial actions within the state - actions that whether you like it or not affect every single person living in this state. So it should have been refunded to all, and if little big brother wants to spend it on pet projects they need to put said projects on the table for approval by the populace and plan it in for next year, not just say trust us and give us their word that it will be used for something good while greedily eyeing that stack of cash that's probably already spent. They talk about schools, yet they underpay teachers and churn out ignorant criminals and wards of the state.........roads and infrastructure look like they are failing to me ..........seems like real law and safety issues are being cut back while propaganda and new agendas are forced forward......I have to wonder where this short bus is heading.

[crays]

I understand what you're saying, however it's tax revenue from the sale of one item specifically allocated. That's the difference from income/sales/property taxes. The first $40 million of tax revenue goes to a public school construction fund and then the remaining money was to be decided on with the ballot issue. If the money went into the pool of all other taxes then yes I would agree with you, but since this is completely separate then it's a different issue.

First $40m - schools construction
next $12m - youth and treatment programs
final $14.1m - SURPRISE!! discretionary fund controlled by lawmakers. Look around and see if you can find my shocked face.

[sniper7]

That money belonged to the potheads and it should have been returned to them.

When your business is overtaxed will you vote to let the government keep it or will you want it back?

I agree, but instead the ballot wanted to completely spread the wealth to every person. Instead it should have went to the people who bought the pot, which I'm guessing also included several out of state people, which would be near impossible to find out who they are.

and of course not, I would want it back, and I'm sure the pot businesses wanted it. but the way it was written is why I voted the way I did.

[roberth]

I agree, but instead the ballot wanted to completely spread the wealth to every person. Instead it should have went to the people who bought the pot, which I'm guessing also included several out of state people, which would be near impossible to find out who they are.

and of course not, I would want it back, and I'm sure the pot businesses wanted it. but the way it was written is why I voted the way I did.

I understand and thanks for being patient with me.

[sniper7]

You can't make the argument of "it's not your money, so you shouldn't care," when the money is being turned over to the state, which is in the same position of "it's not your money." What claim dies the state have for that tax revenue? None.

I look at it as a direct correlation from where that $1 was spent. For example:

pot out head spends $100 at pot shop. $10% of that is sales tax. $10 goes to gov. Pot shop pays another 20% in income tax. Their money which goes to profit, employees, overhead etc. is 70% of total cost. They get $70.

In reality, they were overtaxed, so the person spending the money, the pot head, should have spent $90 for that same pot. 3% was overcharged as sales tax, 7% was overcharged to the pot shop as income tax. That same portion should be returned to the pothead/pot shop. In reality, the pot shop might have charged the same price and pocked the extra profit, or they might have charged less allowing the pothead to either save $$ or buy more.

in the end, not $1 of that money came from me directly, so why should I get any of it back in the form of a refund or tax break? The question was would I rather get $$ that wasn't mine, or give a large portion of it to build schools, have drug programs (needed thanks to the added availability of drugs) and another smaller portion pissed away by the .gov.

i agree the state didn't have a claim for that tax revenue, and it should have been given back to the pot businesses and potheads, but that wasn't the way the bill was written.

[sniper7]

I understand and thanks for being patient with me.

[GunsRBadMMMMKay]

In reality, they were overtaxed

As are we all...........what is the acceptable tax range then?

[Irving]

I watched a Crack head steal my neighbor's bike but I didn't say anything because I hoped a small portion of that stolen bike money would go toward rehab. That's what happened in this state yesterday.

[Dave_L]

I watched a Crack head steal my neighbor's bike but I didn't say anything because I hoped a small portion of that stolen bike money would go toward rehab.

Do you want a merit badge or something for your good deed?