Sara Miller, Mississippi Economic Policy Center, Author at Rethink Mississippi

Sara Miller, Mississippi Economic Policy Center

Sara Miller is Senior Policy Analyst for the Mississippi Economic Policy Center. As a senior policy analyst, Sara primarily focuses her work on Mississippi tax and budget issues. Before working at the Mississippi Economic Policy Center, she served for three years as an Evaluator for the Mississippi Legislature?s Joint Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER). Sara attended Louisiana State University for her undergraduate degree and was awarded a Master of Public Administration degree from George Washington University.

Analysis
Four policies that would close the wage gap for Mississippi women

White women in make only 79 cents for every dollar earned by white men. The gap is even worse for black women.
August 14, 2015
Analysis
Supporting working moms is smart economic policy

More than 300,000 mothers in Mississippi depend on the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
May 14, 2015
Analysis
Closing the book on fiscally-irresponsible tax cuts

The tax cut proposal defeated during the legislative session would have placed necessary investments at risk without improving the state's economic competitiveness.
April 16, 2015
Analysis
Updated Senate plan would cut $550 million in corporate and income taxes

The "compromise" plan adds $170 million to the price tag -- roughly as much as the Legislature underfunded K-12 education this year.
March 17, 2015
Analysis
Why 3 percent growth won?t really ‘cover’ the costs of eliminating the income tax

If the economy grows, the income tax cut will become more expensive in absolute terms -- as will the cost of education, infrastructure, and other public services.
March 12, 2015
Analysis
House and Senate tax plans do little for struggling working families

Low- and middle-income Mississippians pay the state's highest tax rates, but the Legislature has left them out of tax cut discussions.
March 5, 2015
Analysis
Mississippi cannot afford House or Senate tax cut plans

The Legislature's tax cut proposals would require spending reductions for key services like education, infrastructure, mental health, and public safety.
March 4, 2015
Analysis
Wealthy Mississippians would benefit most from income tax elimination

Eliminating the individual income tax would mean either a massive erosion of resources for education and other priorities or a tax shift from wealthy Mississippians to working families who are struggling to make ends meet.
February 25, 2015
Analysis
Eliminating the state income tax in Mississippi: Is it a tax cut or a tax shift?

If the Legislature phases out the state's second-largest revenue source, future budgets will be forced to slash essential investments or raise taxes and fees on low- and middle-income families.
February 25, 2015
Analysis
Large corporate tax cuts are not the answer for Mississippi’s working families

Forbes ranked Mississippi the worst state for business because of a poorly-educated workforce and substandard quality of life factors. Durable investments are needed, not more corporate tax cuts.
February 12, 2015
Analysis
Budget recommendation shortchanges schools and Medicaid

Despite revenue growth and full reserves, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee's FY2016 proposal fails to adequately fund the state's education and health commitments.
December 18, 2014
Analysis
Legislative Budget Committee recommends sweeping budget cuts despite revenue growth and full reserves

Despite $166 million in additional revenue, cuts are recommended for every major budget category except for the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, for which the proposal includes a very small increase for teacher pay raises enacted last year.
December 10, 2014

White women in make only 79 cents for every dollar earned by white men. The gap is even worse for black women.

More than 300,000 mothers in Mississippi depend on the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

The tax cut proposal defeated during the legislative session would have placed necessary investments at risk without improving the state's economic competitiveness.

The "compromise" plan adds $170 million to the price tag -- roughly as much as the Legislature underfunded K-12 education this year.

If the economy grows, the income tax cut will become more expensive in absolute terms -- as will the cost of education, infrastructure, and other public services.

Low- and middle-income Mississippians pay the state's highest tax rates, but the Legislature has left them out of tax cut discussions.

The Legislature's tax cut proposals would require spending reductions for key services like education, infrastructure, mental health, and public safety.

Eliminating the individual income tax would mean either a massive erosion of resources for education and other priorities or a tax shift from wealthy Mississippians to working families who are struggling to make ends meet.

If the Legislature phases out the state's second-largest revenue source, future budgets will be forced to slash essential investments or raise taxes and fees on low- and middle-income families.

Forbes ranked Mississippi the worst state for business because of a poorly-educated workforce and substandard quality of life factors. Durable investments are needed, not more corporate tax cuts.

Despite revenue growth and full reserves, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee's FY2016 proposal fails to adequately fund the state's education and health commitments.

Despite $166 million in additional revenue, cuts are recommended for every major budget category except for the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, for which the proposal includes a very small increase for teacher pay raises enacted last year.