Support of financing of essential state government services by a well-administered tax system through:

• Strengthening the income tax based on ability to pay; and
• Use of a general sales tax with exemptions to make it less regressive.

Support of the state's role in financing and organizing effective local government through equitable distribution of state monies including:

• Equitable sharing of tax proceeds by state and local units through improvements in distribution of taxes raised by the state;
• A property tax relief formula that would tend to reduce local property taxes where they are above the state average;
• Use of the property tax as part of the revenue mix, but decrease the percentage of reliance as part of that mix;
• A highway aids formula that reflects cost, such as vehicle mileage or use; and
• Use of increased users' fees at both state and local levels.

Support for local government's use of:

• Borrowing cautiously and within limits;
• Tax incremental financing but with tightened rules; and
• Industrial revenue bonds when limited to original intent.

Support for periodic legislative review of tax exemptions and credits.

Support of the state's role in financing and organizing effective local government through improved assessment policies including equity in local property taxation through improvement in standards and procedures of the assessment process.

Support of an education formula that takes into account a local community's total tax burden and total available financial resources.

Support of a system of financing that ensures that a child's opportunity for a good education is not limited by the fiscal ability of the local school district; an education aids formula that provides that the state will assume a significant amount of educational financing, include the costs of building and debt service in the formula and provide increased state payments for children with special needs.

(See Education for an explanation of these last two positions).