California Could Gain Up To $25 Million Annually From Gay Marriage..study

[Cannikin]

(Los Angeles, California) A UCLA study says that if California legalized same-sex marriage there would be a net gain of $22.3 to $25.2 million each year for the State budget.

The study was prepared by the Williams Project, a think tank at UCLA School of Law and by the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Strategic Studies.

Savings in means-tested public benefits programs, increases in sales tax revenues from tourism, and additional dollars for same-sex wedding ceremonies would account for the windfall to the State, the study says.

"These savings more than offset a decrease in income tax revenues, says" Brad Sears, co-author of the study and Executive Director of the Williams Project.

The main savings for the State would be the consequence of decreasing the number of individuals eligible for means-tested state benefit programs, like Medi-Cal and CalWorks the study says. Under the benefit programs a person's married same-sex partner is included when determining eligibility for state benefit programs.

http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/05/051104CalMarr.htm