On Thursday, Lawmakers Approved A One-Time Payment Of Tax Rebates Of $150 To Single People And $300 To Married Couples. Senators Voted 27-4 And Representatives Voted 103-0 For The Compromise Amount
One-time Payment for income tax filers.
Legislators agreed to a late compromise agreement of one-time payment tax rebates amounting to $150 for singles and $300 for married couples. The House of Representatives and Alabama Senate approved the payment with a vote of 27-4 and representatives voted 103-0 for the amount which will cost $393 million.
The bill is now in the hands to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who will decide to put it into law. Ivey was then proposed last March to a larger rebate to $400 for singles and $800for married couple saying that it is the people’s hard-earned money and deserve to give it back to them. Senate Finance and Taxation Committee Chairman Arthur Orr said that the larger rebate would cost the education budget to be reduced, other significant tax cuts and same with food sales tax.
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As lawmakers trying to make alternatives to compensate with the one-time payment without affecting other departments, as this larger rebate would cause economic shutdown. The tax rebates will only go to the people who filed their income tax in 2021 and not to those who need it the most and couldn’t file an income tax because they earn too little and depends on the retirement benefits.
Republican Rep. Danny Garrett, House education budget committee, said he understand the concern but have to refund the people who worked hard for it. The bill was approved and reached its final passage on Thursday evening. $9 billion education trust fund budget was approved with 2% increase in pay to public school teachers and K-12 employees, there is a $300 million created for savings account for the education budget. Food sales tax also lowered from 4% to 2%, the House of Representatives also advanced a plan.
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