sales tax

An Iowan view of Massachusetts

adamg — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:08:36 +0000

A headline that really pops.

A roving UHub Gather user wonders just what this "pop" is that Deval Patrick allegedly wants to slather taxes on, according to this article by a resident of HFCSland. Is it anything like tonic?

Cutting the state sales tax could force MBTA fare increases, service cuts, T advisory board says

adamg — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 20:15:48 +0000

The MBTA Advisory Board analyzes the potential impact of Question 3, which would cut the state sales tax from 6.25% to 3%, concludes passage and actual enactment would mean a big hit on the T, which now gets 57% of its revenue from state sales-tax revenue.

A portion of the sales tax is dedicated to the T; the board notes the T last year forestalled fare increases in part through additional revenue from the increase in the sales tax from 5% to 6.25%.

In addition to requiring fare increases and service cuts, the board writes passage could affect the covenants on bonds the state issued for capital projects that were based on the assumption they'd be repaid in large part through sales-tax revenue:

Any attempt to disrupt this framework could place the MBTA and Commonwealth in violation of its bond covenants, potentially triggering major and expensive legal action that could result in the seizure of assets.

Campaign roundup: Cutting the sales tax

adamg — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:31:33 +0000

WBUR takes a look at both sides of Question 3, which would cut the state sales tax from 6.25 to 3%.

Slight majority favors cutting the sales tax

adamg — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 10:48:41 +0000

The Globe does some polling on Question 3, which would cut the sales tax from 6.25 to 3%.

Business group opposes cut in state sales tax

adamg — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:17:12 +0000

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation says Question 3, which would cut the state sales tax from 6.25 to 3%, would leave us heading over the cliff:

Voter approval of Question 3 would result in across-the-board cuts of approximately 30 percent in virtually all state programs, including local aid, higher education, human services, prisons, courts, environmental protection, and state parks and beaches.

When no means yes

adamg — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 15:17:20 +0000

One Massachusetts is a group seeking a "No" vote on all three of this year's ballot questions, which would cut the sales tax in general, repeal the sales tax on booze in particular and eliminate a state requirement that communities ensure a certain percentage of their homes are "affordable." The group's Harmony Blakeway makes the case that "No" votes would actually be saying:

YES for our communities. YES, we want stable, healthy communities with opportunities for recovery. YES, we believe that all of our friends and neighbors deserve safe homes and neighborhoods. YES, we understand that our shared investment is essential to expanding economic opportunity and prosperity in Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, Dan Kennedy explains why he's inclined to vote "Yes" to repeal the affordable-housing provision, also known as Chapter 40B, because it can encourage overdevelopment, but also makes a request to the state's media:

Over the next few weeks, as we move closer to Election Day, I hope news organizations will take a good, hard look at Chapter 40B and whether it really deserves to be retained. What are the success stories? What are the failures? How could it be improved?

I would just as soon not vote against affordable housing, but right now I don’t see any reason to keep this law on the books.

Line around the corner just to get into the Apple store this morning

adamg — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:59:53 +0000

Anita Patel reports from Boylston Street on the first of our tax-free days. Urbanity Dance reports they were giving out free Smart Water.

Ed. true confession: We need a new refrigerator. We "bought" one on Thursday to avoid the rush today; salesman said they would hold our "proposal" until this morning, then ring it in.

Would you vote to cut the sales tax to 3%?

adamg — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:05:45 +0000

Looks like you'll get the chance to do so this November. The Outraged Liberal argues why you shouldn't.

Signatures filed for 2010 sales tax question

Suldog — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:31:21 +0000

From press release of Carla Howell's Center For Small Government

Today, at 10:30am at the Elections Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Carla Howell and several volunteers filed the last batches of validated signatures for this petition drive.

"We filed a bullet-proof, challenge-proof number of signatures for our ballot initiative to roll back the sales tax from 6.25% to 3%," said Carla Howell.

"We needed 66,593 validated signatures to qualify. Today, we turned in the last of over 75,978 validated signatures - 9,385 more signatures than the law requires."

More at... well, I would have thought it might be HERE, but the press release hasn't made it to the website yet. Anyway, I'm sure opinions abound, so have fun!

Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com

Who buys booze on a bathroom break?

adamg — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:07:09 +0000

That's the explanation being given by state Rep. Michael Rodrigues, whose car - emblazoned with his House of Representatives plates - a Herald reader photographed at a New Hamphsire state liquor store. Where, of course, they don't charge sales taxes, such as the ones Rodrigues voted to increase.

The cost of a meal in Boston will be going up

adamg — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:57:46 +0000

The tax on meals, already set to increase to 6.25% next month, will go up to 7% Oct. 1 under a plan released today by Mayor Menino to combat a drop in state aid.

Taxes up, services down under budget passed yesterday

adamg — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:42:49 +0000

The Globe has the details.

Shocker: A politician engages in politics!

adamg — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:25:09 +0000

Who knew the state legislature was full of such delicate flowers?

It's DeLeo's world and Patrick is just living in it

adamg — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:05:29 +0000

House passes sales-tax increase by veto-proof margin.

Mike Ball asks that you call your legislators and tell them that's meaningless without reform: Don't let those clowns think they've done enough!

The Outraged Liberal says Patrick could win the war for losing this battle: Patrick either ultimately gets the reforms he wants from the legislature or he has a ready-made issue to use against Republican Christy Mihos next year:

... Higher turnpike polls become lawmakers' problems and they will have hell to pay for the next round of MBTA service cuts and fare hikes. Not to mention they will own the crumbling roads and bridges.

Patrick's popularity numbers may be in the tank, but no politician has ever gone wrong running against the legislature or Congress. The beleaguered Patrick has put an important downpayment on his campaign by taking a stand here. ...

Blue Mass. Group has the roll call vote.

Math is hard

adamg — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:11:17 +0000

And nobody knows that more than people in the news business, who cannot do math to save their lives (raises hand). So, it's probably not surprising we're now seeing stuff like this AP headline: MA House to debate 1.25 percent sales tax hike.

No, guys, they're not debating a 1.25% sales tax hike. They're debating a 25% sales tax hike. Go divide 1.25 by 5 and tell us what you get for an answer. Or go talk to one of your Wall Street reporters about percentage points (or "basis points" or whatever they call them).