Deukmejians Pay Double the Taxes They Paid in ’87

Gov. George Deukmejian, who supported President Reagan’s successful efforts to overhaul the federal income tax system, reported Friday that he and his wife, Gloria, paid twice as much tax this year as they did in 1987.

According to copies of the governor’s tax returns released by his office, the Deukmejians earned $93,611 last year, a 58% increase over 1986. At the same time, the couple paid $26,510 in federal, state and local taxes--a 102% increase over the previous year.

This is the first year that the new federal and state income tax changes took effect, and supporters had claimed that most taxpayers would see their tax bill fall. But, in fact, many individuals, including the governor, have experienced the opposite.

The increase in Deukmejian’s income was due primarily to a bill signed by the governor in 1984 which boosted the salaries of state legislators, department directors, agency secretaries and all constitutional officers. As a result, the governor’s salary rose to $85,000 from the previous $49,100.

The couple reported $1,885 in deductible contributions last year and earmarked $1 each in federal taxes for the presidential election campaign fund. Aside from contributions, the Deukmejians’ largest deductions were $5,848 for state and local income taxes, $862 in property taxes and $452 in mortgage interest on their Long Beach home. In all, the Deukmejians paid $19,990 in federal taxes and $5,640 in state income taxes.

Although the couple overpaid their federal and state taxes by $1,320, they decided to forgo a refund, as they have done in the past, and apply the overpayment to next year’s tax obligation.