NEW: Rhode Island has 8th Highest State-Local Tax Burden in U.S.

Wednesday, April 02, 2014

GoLocalProv News Team

 

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Rhode Island has 8th highest state-local tax burden in the U.S., according a report released today by the Tax Foundation.  

The Foundation released its annual State-Local Tax Burdens report , which shows that taxpayers in Rhode Island paid 10.5% of their collective incomes in state and local taxes in 2011. The national average was 9.8%.

“States have different tax burdens, just as they have different levels of services. For Americans to make informed judgments about benefits and costs of state-local government, the costs need to be known.” said Tax Foundation economist Liz Malm. “This annual estimate of how much residents pay in state-local taxes helps inform that discussion.” 

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Report Findings:

During the 2011 fiscal year, state-local tax burdens as a share of state incomes decreased on average. This trend was largely driven by the growth of income in all states.

In 2011, the residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut had the highest state-local tax burdens as a share of income in the nation. In these states, residents have forgone over 11.9 percent of income due to state and local taxes.

Residents of Wyoming paid the lowest percentage of income in 2011 at just 6.9 percent. They replaced Alaska, which had previously been the least-taxed for multiple decades, as the lowest-burdened state in the nation. After Wyoming and Alaska, the next lowest-taxed states were South Dakota, Texas, and Louisiana.

State-local tax burdens are very close to one another and slight changes in taxes or income can translate to seemingly dramatic shifts in rank. For example, the twenty mid-ranked states, ranging from Oregon (16th) to Georgia (35th), only differ in burden by just over one percentage point.

On average, taxpayers pay more to their own state and local governments (73 percent of total burden). Taxes paid within states of residence decreased on average in 2011, while taxes paid to other states increased, leading to a slight decrease in total burden. Some states deviated from these national trends, however.

The report examines burden trends over time and takes into account what taxpayers pay to other states in addition to their own, offering a more accurate picture of the true tax burden borne by residents.

 

Related Slideshow: Smallest + Largest Tax Increases in RI

Below are the largest—and smallest—tax increases in Rhode Island cities and towns for fiscal year 2014. The data measures the overall change in the amount levied in taxes between last year and this year. It does not compare changes in individual tax rates for homeowners, which may have been higher than the overall increase if the change in the rates was lower for another group of taxpayers in the community. This year, for the first time, all communities stayed below the annual tax cap, which for 2014 was 4 percent. (The cap applies to the overall levy not individual tax rates. Note that the levies for any independent fire districts in a community are not included.) Below communities are ranked starting with those that had the lowest increases. Data was provided by the state Division of Municipal Finance and is current as of January 7. 

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#39

Pawtucket

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: -0.68%

Rank: 39

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $100,068,109

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $99,386,793

Amount of Increase: -$681,316

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#38

Hopkinton

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: -0.40%

Rank: 38

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $18,300,511

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $18,228,199

Amount of Increase: -$72,312

Note: Has an independent fire district. Levy for fire districts not included.

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#37

Cranston

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 0.12%

Rank: 37

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $181,367,888

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $181,591,060

Amount of Increase: $223,172

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#36

Jamestown

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 0.37%

Rank: 36

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $19,089,398

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $19,160,796

Amount of Increase: $71,398

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#35

North Providence

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 0.40%

Rank: 35

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $67,468,778

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $67,737,041

Amount of Increase: $268,263

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#34

Glocester

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 0.41%

Rank: 34

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $20,666,156

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $20,750,248

Amount of Increase: $84,092

 

Note: Has an independent fire district. Levy for fire districts not included.

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#33

West Greenwich

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 0.42%

Rank: 33

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $17,700,512

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $17,775,266

Amount of Increase: $74,754

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#32

Foster

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 0.56%

Rank: 32

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $11,206,523

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $11,269,380

Amount of Increase: $62,857

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#31

Warren

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 0.57%

Rank: 31

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $21,962,605

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $22,087,246

Amount of Increase: $124,641

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#30

Barrington

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 0.66%

Rank: 30

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $55,757,749

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $56,127,312

Amount of Increase: $369,563

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#29

South Kingstown

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 1.03%

Rank: 29

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $66,399,782

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $67,082,117

Amount of Increase: $682,335

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#28

Lincoln

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 1.08%

Rank: 28

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $51,933,416

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $52,492,287

Amount of Increase: $558,871

Note: Has an independent fire district. Levy for fire districts not included.

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#27

North Kingstown

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 1.37%

Rank: 27

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $69,092,073

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $70,035,857

Amount of Increase: $943,784

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#26

Cumberland

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 1.53%

Rank: 26

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $59,560,610

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $60,472,810

Amount of Increase: $912,200

Note: Has an independent fire district. Levy for fire districts not included. Cumberland actual amount is an estimate reported by the town. Final levy will be set in May 2014

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#25

Warwick

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 1.57%

Rank: 25

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $220,300,865

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $223,763,444

Amount of Increase: $3,462,579

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#24

Little Compton

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 1.74%

Rank: 24

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $10,153,215

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $10,329,739

Amount of Increase: $176,524

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#23

East Providence

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 1.91%

Rank: 23

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $101,738,436

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $103,679,393

Amount of Increase: $1,940,957

Note: East Providence fiscal year is Nov. 1 to Oct. 31. Figures represent an state estimate which will be finalized in spring 2014.

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#22

Westerly

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 1.93%

Rank: 22

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $64,073,479

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $65,309,605

Amount of Increase: $1,236,126

Note: Has an independent fire district. Levy for fire districts not included.

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#21

Middletown

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 1.95%

Rank: 21

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $42,569,846

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $43,400,329

Amount of Increase: $830,483

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#20

Charlestown

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 1.95%

Rank: 20

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $22,244,817

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $22,679,022

Amount of Increase: $434,205

Note: Has an independent fire district. Levy for fire districts not included.

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#19

Tiverton

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 2.22%

Rank: 19

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $36,705,787

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $37,519,924

Amount of Increase: $814,137

Note: Has an independent fire district. Levy for fire districts not included.

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#18

Narragansett

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 2.25%

Rank: 18

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $45,045,014

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $46,060,213

Amount of Increase: $1,015,199

Note: Has an independent fire district. Levy for fire districts not included.

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#17

Portsmouth

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 2.41%

Rank: 17

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $46,892,274

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $48,021,889

Amount of Increase: $1,129,615

Note: Has an independent fire district. Levy for fire districts not included.

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#16

Providence

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 2.42%

Rank: 16

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $332,768,119

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $340,814,523

Amount of Increase: $8,046,404

Photo: Flickr/thurdl01

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#15

Smithfield

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 2.43%

Rank: 15

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $50,485,821

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $51,713,919

Amount of Increase: $1,228,098

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#14

Scituate

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 2.63%

Rank: 14

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $25,737,325

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $26,415,040

Amount of Increase: $677,715

Note: Scituate fiscal year is April 1 to March 31.

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#13

Johnston

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 2.73%

Rank: 13

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $68,325,207

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $70,191,873

Amount of Increase: $1,866,666

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#12

Exeter

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 2.76%

Rank: 12

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $12,699,098

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $13,048,989

Amount of Increase: $349,891

Note: Has an independent fire district. Levy for fire districts not included.

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#11

Bristol

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 3.20%

Rank: 11

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $35,907,363

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $37,055,367

Amount of Increase: $1,148,004

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#10

Richmond

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 3.39%

Rank: 10

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $16,192,073

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $16,740,541

Amount of Increase: $548,468

Photo: Flickr/peppergrasss

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#9

Newport

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 3.49%

Rank: 9

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $65,177,966

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $67,451,455

Amount of Increase: $2,273,489

Photo: Flickr/Jasperdo

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#8

Coventry

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 3.56%

Rank: 8

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $62,327,613

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $64,549,069

Amount of Increase: $2,221,455

Note: Has an independent fire district. Levy for fire districts not included.

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#7

Burrillville

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 3.63%

Rank: 7

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $27,830,582

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $28,840,267

Amount of Increase: $1,009,685

Note: Has an independent fire district. Levy for fire districts not included.

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#6

North Smithfield

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 3.82%

Rank: 6

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $28,611,366

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $29,705,309

Amount of Increase: $1,093,943

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#5

New Shoreham

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 3.85%

Rank: 5

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $8,400,360

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $8,723,934

Amount of Increase: $323,574

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#4

West Warwick

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 3.89%

Rank: 4

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $54,252,606

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $56,363,626

Amount of Increase: $2,111,020

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#3

East Greenwich

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 3.91%

Rank: 3

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $49,896,853

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $51,845,789

Amount of Increase: $1,948,936

Note: East Greenwich fiscal year 2013 & 2014 levies reflect the towns merger with the fire district in June 2013.

Photo: Flickr/Jimmy Wayne

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#2

Woonsocket

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 3.99%

Rank: 2

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $57,588,098

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $59,888,228

Amount of Increase: $2,300,130

Note: Woonsocket fiscal year 2013 includes a supplemental tax.

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#1

Central Falls

FY 2013 to FY 2014 Tax Increase: 4.00%

Rank: 1

FY 2013 Tax Levy: $13,674,638

FY 2014 Tax Levy: $14,221,500

Amount of Increase: $546,862

 

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