Tax Proposals Fail to Garner Much Support in Statewide Proposals

Voters disapproved of several tax-cutting measures appearing on statewide ballots across the nation — a good sign for states facing huge budget deficits. A proposal to roll back the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 3 percent failed to garner support in Massachusetts, saving the state's projected deficit from doubling in the next year, according to Stateline.org. Colorado voters also rejected tax-cutting measures, including an amendment to prohibit the state from borrowing.

Measures to generate revenue and shore up budgets didn't fare well either, however. Washingtonians voted against a proposed income tax on high earners while voters in Arizona overwhelmingly decided against raiding two funds to help fill the budget deficit, leaving the state with a $450 million budget gap.

In Massachusetts, an effort to roll back a recent sales tax increase failed to garner voter support. Question 3 would reduce the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 3 percent. Had the measure passed, it could have doubled the state's projected budget deficit next year to $5 billion, reports Stateline.org. The measure failed 43 percent to 57 percent with 66 percent of the vote counted, according to MassLive.com.

Colorado voters rejected Amendment 61, which would prohibit the state from borrowing and place new restrictions on all types of borrowing for local governments. The measure was failing with 73 percent of voters opposed statewide, reports Colorado Daily.

Two measures aimed at filling a $450 million budget gap in Arizona by raiding a land-conservation fund and an early childhood development program failed by an overwhelming majority. Seventy-four percent of voters voted no on Proposition 301 and 69 percent of voters said no to Proposition 302, according to unofficial results from the secretary of state.

Washington voters defeated Initiative 1098 by a vote of 65 percent to 34 percent. The measure aimed to generate revenue and reduce other taxes by taxing incomes on individuals earning more than $200,000 and on couples earning more than $400,000.

Voters in Indiana approved Question 1, a constitutional amendment limiting property tax bills to one percent of a home's assessed value and 3 percent on business property, reports the Journal and Courier. The tax cap will take revenue away from local governments, the article states.

North Dakota, one of only a handful of states with a budget surplus, will create a Legacy Fund dedicating 30 percent of the state's oil and gas revenues to the fund following voter approval of 63 percent to 36 percent. The fund cannot be touched until 2017 and requires two-thirds legislative approval for expenditure.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Proposition 23, a measure to suspend California's Global Warming Act of 2006, was defeated 61 percent to 39 percent, reports the Los Angeles Times. Fifty-five percent of voters approved Proposition 25, which changes the legislative vote requirement to pass budgets and budget-related legislation from a two-thirds majority to a simple majority.

Alaska Proposition B garnered 59 percent of the vote. The measure allows the state to issue $400 million in general obligation bonds to build library, education and educational research facilities.

Voters approved Measure 71 in Oregon mandating that legislators meet annually instead of every two years.