Personal Income Taxes
Adoptions: The last adoption of a personal income tax in a state without one was Connecticut early in the 1990s. For the status of proposals for income taxes in states without them see the section on state-local fiscal relations.
Changes: By basing a successful 1993 campaign for governor of New Jersey on a promise to reduce the state income tax by 30% Christie Whitman made cutting income taxes a popular proposal for candidates in the 1994 gubernatorial races. Victories by some of the gubernatorial and legislative candidates using the theme and strong state finances made cutting income taxes popular in 1995, 1996, and to a lesser degree 1997. The interest in income tax cuts has probably about run its course. Polls in New Jersey suggest that Whitman got little credit from New Jersey voters for the 30% cuts. She has promised that her tax cutting priority in the new term will be property tax reductions.