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Statement on the Senate Ways and Means Budget Proposal
The state budget process continues on as the Senate Ways and Means Committee (SWM) released its proposal for the State budget today. With recent news that year-to-date tax revenue collections are lower than expected, the Senate grapples with hard choices about the Commonwealth’s priorities.
Comparing Tax Cut Proposals from 2022 to 2023
Massachusetts lawmakers have proposed tax policy changes in 2022 and 2023 that would reduce public revenue by large amounts—providing the most benefits to the most affluent households. This table compares the major, permanent tax cut packages proposed since last year.
Statement on the House Budget
The final House version of the budget, at $56.2 billion, is $154 million larger than the Governor’s proposal. It includes notable amendments to the House Ways and Means proposal, but remains similar at its core.
ALL BUDGET RESOURCES REPORTS
Statement on the House Ways and Means Budget Proposal
While this proposal includes some important investments and policies, both it and the Governor’s proposal are limited by a set of proposed regressive tax cuts.
High-Income Households Are Not Fleeing Massachusetts
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data show that Massachusetts has low rates of out-migration among high-income households compared to other states. As a consequence, delivering large tax cuts to these few households to stem a non-existent exodus is misguided.
How Many Would Benefit from the Gov’s Child & Family Tax Credit?
The Governor’s proposed Child and Family Tax Credit would help families by providing $600 each year for each child under 13 and dependent adults over 65 years of age or with disabilities. This dashboard identifies – by legislative district – how many dependents would be eligible for the proposed Child and Family Tax Credit.
Taking Measure of the Governor’s Tax Plan
The Governor’s proposal would provide benefits to households across the income spectrum, but by far the largest benefits would accrue to a small number of very wealthy families.
Governor’s Estate Tax Plan Is Costly and Gives Biggest Breaks to Largest Estates – Better Options Exist
During the current legislative session, lawmakers will consider a number of proposals for changing the Massachusetts estate tax. Two proposals are compared here – one put forward by Governor Healey (H.42), and another, S.1784/H.2960, offered in the Senate and House.
MassBudget’s Look at the Governor’s Budget Proposal
The governor’s budget proposal includes investments that will reduce some of the hardship faced by Bay Staters, but it also would deeply cut two major taxes for the wealthiest households, hurting our ability to fund those investments long-term.
Statement on Governor Healey’s Budget Proposal
Important investments and missed opportunities – MassBudget reacts to the Governor’s budget proposal.
Building an Antiracist State Budget
This year, MassBudget is embarking on an Antiracist State Budget Project. The project strives to put forward antiracist approaches to policy making to meaningfully introduce antiracist frameworks to state government. So that, together, we can build a state budget that drives racial and economic justice in our Commonwealth.
How Much Would a Transfer Fee on Expensive Real Estate Generate for Your City or Town?
A downloadable, interactive Excel dashboard that provides data for each of Massachusetts’ 351 cities and towns on how much revenue a community could raise by collecting an additional real estate transfer fee on the sale of more expensive homes.
With Rainy Day Fund Filling Up Fast, It’s Time to Invest in Community Needs
The state’s rainy day fund is fast approaching its capped “allowable balance.” It could exceed the cap at the end of Fiscal Year 2024. With so many unmet needs for revenue throughout the Commonwealth, lawmakers should ensure the fund’s value remains below the cap.
Memo to Governor Healey on Ways to Ensure Effective Implementation of the Fair Share Amendment
As Massachusetts voters have amended the state constitution to include a 4 percent surtax on taxable income over $1 million, MassBudget would like to offer policy suggestions to assist the Commonwealth in protecting this revenue and ensuring that it is directed to education and transportation, as specified in the amendment.
Massachusetts Capital Budget 101
The capital budgeting process takes place largely out of the public eye but is responsible for building and maintaining critical state infrastructure. Learn more about it here.
“Excess” as Mirage: How the 62F Tax Cap Distorts Our View of Massachusetts Tax Revenue
The 1986 tax cap law, also known as “62F,” artificially limits the amount of tax revenue available to address priorities like affordable, quality childcare, safer public transportation, and affordable housing. Moreover, there are flaws in the 62F law and its underlying formula. 62F tells a story about revenue in Massachusetts, but it is misleading.
62F Credits Benefit the Rich
The “tax cap law,” or what is known as “62F,” sets an artificial limit on how much tax revenue Massachusetts can collect, regardless of the current needs of the Commonwealth. This law in effect transfers to higher income households tax revenue paid by lower income households and does nothing to improve racial or economic equity in our state.
A Blast from the Past: Reagan-Era Tax Law Hits Hard
You are not alone if you had never heard of the Massachusetts “tax cap law,” or what is also known as “62F.” This Reagan-era law sets an artificial limit on how much tax revenue Massachusetts can collect, regardless of the current needs of the Commonwealth.
