Dear Editor,
Alabama lawmakers are desperate to fund the basic needs of our state, especially now that the BP money has been exhausted. I have a suggestion.
As a retired teacher, most of my yearly income comes from social security and a nice retirement check from Mr. Bronner..These funds generate a significant federal tax liability, a liability that serves as a deduction for my state income tax. This is despite the fact that Alabama does not tax the income from social security or from state retirement accounts.
This is not right. I pay far less Alabama tax than many Alabamians with smaller incomes, some with much smaller incomes.
The suggestion is obvious. There must be a limit, either percentage or absolute, to the size of the federal tax deduction and to the amount of retirement income that is not taxed.
Jo Heath
Professor Emerita
Auburn University
Auburn
Letter to the Editor: Finding another way
