HB 1 -- the "untax groceries" bill -- will give every Alabamian a 4 percent cut on grocery taxes. To pay for this reduction while protecting our school funding, it will end an income tax break that favors the wealthiest taxpayers. Only couples making more than $200,000 and singles making more than $100,000 will see any tax increase. For the very highest earners, income taxes will go up by only about 1 percent of their income.
The charts below, based on the most recent Census data available, show how household incomes stack up across each county. Legislators often find it surprising to learn what the families in their districts really make. Keep in mind two points: 1) The smallest county populations are surveyed every ten years, while larger ones get more frequent estimates; and 2) Since the 2007 numbers reflect pre-recession earnings, family incomes are likely lower for 2010 than these charts indicate.
