Surcharge would save jobs, services

I contacted the director of the Iowa Department of Revenue and asked: In order to cover the $415 million revenue shortfall, how much more income tax, as a percentage, would Iowa taxpayers have to pay as a one-time surcharge? His answer was 3.3 percent.

So if your normal tax obligation is $1,000, your one-time surcharge would be $33; it would be only $165 on a $5,000 tax bill. If you pay no income tax, then nothing additional. Problem solved, fair and simple. This solution saves 791 jobs with little pain to us as taxpayers. It maintains the current level of services and does not impinge on our safety.

Contrast this with Gov. Culver's solution: Almost 800 jobs would be lost, services reduced and safety compromised. Is it fair for 791 people to pay for the shortfall with their jobs, with the reduction in services these people provide, with the safety they provide the rest of us in Iowa?

Not when a 3.3 percent one-time surcharge would solve the problem.

Donald Miller

Waterloo