Current Issues

Issues now under review by TRAC include:

• Economic Development
  
  What rules and regulations hinder people from opening legitimate businesses or that discourage competition? How do tax rates and labor regulations decrease business activity?
  

• The Environment
  
  Are property rights adequately defined to protect the environment? What incentives can be created through market forces to discourage pollution and environmental damage?
  

• Education
  
  What rules and regulations hinder consumer choice, competition, and efficiency in the education system?
  
  
• Health Care
  
  What constraints limit competition in the health care system? What incentives discourage consumers from choosing and paying for their own health care services? What is the appropriate mix of public and private funds in paying for issues such as long-term care?
  
  
• Welfare
  
  Are certain incentives discouraging people from working and improving their lives? How can the needy be helped yet encouraged to regain control of their own destinies?
  
  
• Local Government Financing
  
  What are the financial effects of mandates imposed on local government by state and federal lawmakers? What does this mean for local tax and budget policy and control of spending priorities?
  
  
• Education Funding
  
  What factors determine how much funding is dedicated to education? What should the state and local contributions be to total funding? What are the costs associated with providing public education today? Why do rapidly increasing amounts of funding have to be channeled towards education? Is there a correlation between student performance and expenditures?
  
  
• Impact of Interstate Tax Policy
  
  What are the repercussions or benefits a state may realize from tax policy changes by neighboring states? What advantages and disadvantages would there be to more coordinated tax policies among states in specific geographical regions?
  
  
• Alternatives to Property Taxes for School Funding
  
  What are the advantages and disadvantages of eliminating the property tax as a source for school funding? What other sources of revenue could be utilized to replace property tax revenue for education funding? What would the impact of the alternative revenue sources be on taxpayers?
  
  
• Equity in Education Funding
  
  What is the definition of equity in school financing? How is equity achieved? Why are so many state education funding policies challenged in court? What role does "per pupil" funding have in the debate over equity in school funding?

• Local Government Economic Development
  
  There is increased competition on the part of local governments to attract business and industry. What is the financial impact of this competition? What are the most financially beneficial incentives local governments are using to increase economic development?