TAX COMMISSION - Plan aids homeowners, slashes business perks

Former state Senate President John McKay has proposed a tax plan that would reduce homeowners' property taxes up to 45 percent at the expense of business interests that have been exempted from sales tax for decades.

McKay, a member of the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, took steps Friday to address a ''patently unfair'' tax system by filing a proposed constitutional amendment with the commission that would direct the Legislature to review all items and services that are not being taxed in order to to repeal $15 billion worth of sales-tax exemptions on services and items like lawn care service, professional sports skyboxes and cattle growth enhancers.