Voters Weigh Taxes on the Rich, Oil Drillers, Office Space

Voters in Tuesday’s elections are asked whether to toss out Illinois’ flat income tax, loosen California’s commercial property tax caps, and overhaul Alaska’s oil and gas production tax.

There’s a lot at stake for taxpayers and policymakers in all three states.

Illinois, California, and Alaska are all scraping for funds to erase a period of fiscal upheaval. But some of the wealthy individuals and corporate interests question the fairness of adding to their tax burdens during a recession triggered by the Covid-19 public health crisis. They’re urging people who aren’t rich to side with those who’d have to pay more. ...