To the Editor:

The people have been told for years, particularly by Republican candidates running for the General Assembly, “We will cut your taxes.”

They have cut your taxes if you made over $88,000 per year. If you have made less than that you have seen no cut and, in most cases, have seen your taxes raised. You may not have a raise in income tax but you will probably pay much more every day for sales tax.

They have imposed sales taxes on electricity, natural gas, entertainment and movies. They have increased tax rates from 2 percent to 4.75 percent on modular homes and manufactured homes (mobile homes) and taken off the cap on the maximum tax.

You will also be paying sales tax for your dentist, doctor, mechanic, electrician, plumber and for work done on service contracts. You will now pay sales tax on farm equipment and if you gross less than $10,000 per year, you will lose your farm deduction.

They have eliminated all personal exemptions and repealed the $50,000 business income deduction. They have eliminated the $4,000 deduction for most government retirement income and the $2,000 deduction for private retirement.

They have also eliminated deductions for premiums paid on long-term care insurance, medical expenses, earned income tax credit and cost of meal plans at colleges.

Who wins from these tax bills? Corporations have been paying 6.9 percent. This drops the tax rate to 6 percent for 2014 and to 5 percent for 2015.  Individuals have been paying 7.5 percent, 7 percent and 6 percent and will now pay 5.8 percent. Figure this tax advantage for those making millions.

Calculate how much more you will pay and remember it when you vote for members of the General Assembly in 2016.

Clayton Ramsey

Franklin