Deukmejians’ Taxes--and Income--Fell in ’88

Gov. George Deukmejian and his wife, Gloria, paid $21,314 in federal, state and local taxes during 1988 on total income of $85,141, according to copies of their tax returns released Monday by the governor’s office.

The Deukmejians paid nearly $5,200 less in taxes than the year before, but that was largely because their income dropped by almost $8,500, their returns show. Unlike the year before, when the governor made $7,500 in honorariums, Deukmejian did not collect any money from outside speaking engagements during 1988.

“The income is down, and so is the tax bite as well,” said Kevin Brett, the governor’s press secretary.

California’s First Family received a federal tax refund of $1,510, but ended up paying the state an additional $110 because not enough money was withheld from the governor’s paycheck.

The Deukmejians reported receiving $82,970 from the governor’s salary. They also received interest income of $127, a state and local tax refund of $208 and oil royalties totaling $58.

Apart from the governor’s pay, the largest amount of income the Deukmejians received was $1,778 in dividends from stocks they own. They received $1,693 in dividends from Shearson, Lehman Hutton Inc. stock that Gloria Deukmejian inherited. And they received a dividend of $85 from stock the governor owns in the Long Beach Grand Prix Assn.

Deukmejian and his wife made $2,020 in contributions, including donations to the United Way, All Saints Episcopal Church and public television station KVIE in Sacramento, Brett said.

Although the governor is opposed to the use of public funds to finance state and local campaigns, he and his wife each checked the box designating that $1 of their taxes go to the presidential election campaign fund.

In all, the Deukmejians paid $15,544 in federal taxes, $4,871 in state taxes and $899 in property taxes.

In addition to their personal exemptions, the Deukmejians claimed deductions for two of their three children, George and Andrea.