Supporters of raising taxes for Rhode Island’s most wealthy residents plan to renew their efforts at the Statehouse.

The Revenue for Rhode Island coalition wants to hike the top bracket in the state income tax, from 5,99% to 8,99%, for people whose adjusted gross annual income is above $500,000.

Supporters say boosting the income tax on the wealthiest one percent of Rhode Islanders would bring in $145 million a year.

One backer, state Rep. Karen Alzate (D-Pawtucket), the House sponsor of the proposal, calls this a “common sense” measure that would boost fairness in taxation and the state’s ability to pay for needed improvements in schools, infrastructure, and other areas.

Top state officials, including Senate President Dominick Ruggerio and House Speaker Joe Shekarchi, have opposed tax increases in the past.

House spokesman Larry Berman said Monday that Shekarchi is not taking a position on Alzate’s bill. “He will listen to the testimony provided to the House Finance Committee and give it careful consideration through the legislative process,” Berman said via email.

Senate spokesman Greg Pare said Ruggeiro “believes in a fairer tax code, but does not believe that the time is right to raise any taxes.”

Ruggerio’s lieutenant, Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey (D-Warwick), however, is a cosponsor of the Senate version of the bill, sponsored by Sen. Melissa Murray (D-Woonsocket) to boost taxes on the wealthiest Rhode Islanders.

In a statement, McCaffrey said, “Improving our tax structure so that top income earners pay their fair share reduces pressure on everyone else who contributes to the tax system in Rhode Island, including residents and small businesses. Wealthy Rhode Islanders pay a much smaller percentage of their income in taxes than lower income Rhode Islanders. Adjusting the tax code so individuals earning over $475,000 pay similar taxes as those in lower income brackets will provide tax relief to the middle class by ensuring the wealthy pay their fair share.

Opponents argue that higher taxes would send a negative signal about the state’s business climate.

Alzate said one way to build support is by highlighting the level of need in communities such as Pawtucket.

“To take a walk down the streets that I grew up in and showing them, you know, our schools are falling apart,” she said. “You know, our housing stock is very low. We are not able to afford our rents. That’s how I’m doing it -- it’s really groundwork for me.”

Supporters of higher taxes on Rhode Island’s most affluent residents have fought in vain for a number of years to move the issue forward.

The Revenue for Rhode Island coalition plans to announce its effort at a news conference at 3 pm Tuesday in the Statehouse library.

Those slated to speak include Larry Purtill, president of the National Education Association Rhode Island teachers’ union; Melina Lodge, executive director of the Housing Network of Rhode Island, and Khadija Lewis-Khan, Executive Director of Beautiful Beginnings Child Care Center.

Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis@ripr.org. Follow him on Twitter @IanDon. Sign up here for his free weekly RI politics newsletter.