THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TAX-EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS - A REEVALUATION - IN 19 STATES THEY RESULTED IN VIRTUALLY NO SUCCESS IN LIMITING GROWTH IN THEIR BUDGETS

Abstract. A 1982 study of the efficacy and impact of tax and expenditure limitations (TEL) is updated. Utilizing various statistical comparisons, growth in expenditures and revenues in states with TELs is compared to growth in states without a TEL in place. This comparison matches growth in the pre tax revolt years with growth in the post revolt years. In all cases the statistical tests show that the existence of a TEL has had virtually no impact on the growth of statewide expenditures or revenues. Additionally, while aggregate state expenditures and revenues exhibited some decline during the tax revolt years, this decline was short‐lived and has since been reversed. Thus, the primary implication is that TELs as presently construed are an ineffective means of limiting growth in state budgets Copyright © 1990, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved