Massachusetts Budget Cuts

Even the Brockton Enterprise carried the story of the Governor's budget cuts in these tough economic times with revenues evaporating:

Gov. Deval Patrick announced Wednesday he will eliminate 1,000 state jobs and slash more than $1 billion in spending across state government to restore a budget that has proved unsupportable just three months after passage.

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Particular note should be taken of:

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...Legislative approval is needed for $341 million worth of the plan – including for a two-year delay for the state to fully fund its pension obligation, to the year 2025.

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It seems to me that this might be part of Governor Romney's legacy.

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MBPC has greater depth that is worth the review. Check out what MMA posted.

Many of these cuts will hurt those least able to afford them. Under the circumstances, maybe we should seriously consider our vote on Question 1.

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Question 1 Repeal of State Income Tax

Looking for information about Question 1, I found the following poll :

Views on Question 1 varied by political party and education. Democrats opposed the idea 74 percent to 14 percent, as did independent voters by a margin of 70 percent to 22 percent. Republicans favored eliminating the state income tax 42 percent to 36 percent. Of voters with a high school education or less, 41 percent favored Question 1 and 45 percent opposed it. Respondents with at least some college opposed Question 1, 59 percent to 25 percent. College graduates opposed it 70 percent to 19 percent.

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Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation prepared a 28 page report explaining the impact of repealing the state income tax and included a comparison of states without income taxes that is helpful for those who remain undecided (emphasis mine):

The average income tax payment for the 2.15 million taxpayers with incomes below $50,000 is less than $850. Filers with incomes below $10,000, comprising 21 percent, pay $53; another 20 percent with incomes between $10,000 and $25,000 pay $577; the 24 percent with incomes from $25,000 to $50,000 pay $1,773.
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In contrast, tax filers with incomes in excess of $100,000 pay an average of $16,295, nearly 20 times more per filer than the 65 percent of taxpayers who have incomes less than $50,000. The 14 percent of filers with incomes greater than $100,000 pay nearly 63 percent of all state income taxes. Clearly, a small fraction of wealthier taxpayers would receive the greatest cuts from passage of Question 1, a fact that is clouded by the average tax figures used by proponents.

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Page 24 includes MIDDLEBOROUGH's non-education local aid for FY 2008 - 3,608,172 after the 71.1% cut - 1,042,762. Where will Middleborough cut + $2.5 Million?

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The report also includes a breakdown of funding by state agency which is helpful in determining where those tax dollars are being spent. While some have allowed themselves to become convinced that ALL taxes are evil, they ignore that important services are provided that would be slashed without a progressive income tax.

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The Middleboro Gazette (still only 50 cents) printed a letter to the editor written by Brian Fitzgerald that makes valid points in refuting a repeal. If you want to eliminate 'waste,' get involved, review the state budget and work for change, but do so armed with the facts.

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Vote No on Question 1.