Taxes are too high

Arkansas’ taxes are too high. A July 2 press release from the governor’s office states that only four states — Alaska, Arkansas, Montana and North Dakota — don’t have budget problems.

But according to the Federation of Tax Administrators, Arkansas has the highest sales and income taxes for these states.

Sales tax: Arkansas, 6 percent; Alaska, 0 percent; Montana, 0 percent; and North Dakota, 5 percent.

And the highest marginal income tax rates: Arkansas, 7 percent; Alaska, 0 percent; Montana, 6.9 percent; North Dakota, 4.86 percent.

Conclusion: Arkansas can have a balanced budget with lower income and sales taxes. We should elect people who promise to lower our taxes.

Keith L. Chrestman

Jonesboro

Picking out just two types of taxes for comparison does not give a true picture. For example, Alaskans pay much higher property taxes on the average than Arkansans. Alaska also has a corporate income tax rate 2.9 percent higher than Arkansas. —Editor

Thanks from family

The family of Harold F. Nichols would like to thank everyone for their prayers, words of encouragement, cards, flowers, and acts of kindness during our time of grief. All of these things brought comfort and peace.

You let us know we were not alone in our sorrow. There are no words to describe our gratitude. Our prayer is for God to help us give words of encouragement and acts of kindness to others when needed. God bless and keep you!

Nick Nichols

Jonesboro