FRANKFORT — Kentucky's state tax burden remained above the national average and those imposed by surrounding states on their citizens in 1999, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

        State finance officials did not dispute the figures, but said a more accurate picture would include local tax burden, which they maintain is below national figures.

        And Budget Director Jim Ramsey said Kentucky is on par with states that it competes with for business. In fact, the figures show that Kentucky has a lower-than-average corporate income tax.

        Mr. Ramsey also noted that Gov. Paul Patton's administration proposed a modest overhaul of the tax structure in the 2000 General Assembly that would have provided some relief for low-income taxpayers.

        Legislators chose instead to raise taxes on out-of-state long-distance telephone calls.

        According to the Census, each of the more than 3.9 million Kentuckians paid $1,857.15 in state taxes in 1999. Nationally, the average state tax burden was $1,835.27.

        Kentucky imposed the 18th highest state tax burden in 1999.

        By comparison, Ohio residents paid $1,614.64 in state taxes; Indiana, $1,638.27; Tennessee, $1,311.44; West Virginia, $1,742.24; Virginia, $1,682.36; Illinois, $1,748.90; and Missouri, $1,566.03.
       

Firms pay less
        Kentucky actually moved up a spot from 1998, when it had the 19th-highest state tax burden. In 1992, Kentucky was also 18th among the states in taxes.

        Mr. Ramsey said a private study commissioned for the state found Kentucky competitive with other states when state, local, business and individual taxes were compared. That study found individual taxes comparatively higher in Kentucky and business taxes comparatively lower.

        “We think it's fair to look at state and local,” Mr. Ramsey said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

        Specific tax burdens in Kentucky compared to the rest of the nation varied widely, according to the Census.

        Property taxes accounted for $93.52 of the total in Kentucky, but only $41.36 nationally. Tobacco taxes in Kentucky were $4.46, compared with $30.09 nationally.

        Individual income taxes took $639.26 from each Kentuckian, while an average of $633.21 in all the states. Corporate income taxes amounted to $78.79 in Kentucky and $112.77 nationally.

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