Can Tax Amnesty Programs Cure State Budget Woes?
June 3, 2020 | The Insider: White Collar Defense and Securities Enforcement
Beyond the horrific human toll, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on state finances and created massive budget gaps. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that more than half of states are projecting revenue shortfalls as high as 30%. Because the vast majority of states have constitutionally or statutorily mandated balanced budget provisions, governors and state legislatures are searching for ways to fill their deficits, with the most likely source of additional revenues – increased tax rates – being especially unpalatable and unproductive during a severe economic downturn. [...]