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Forum to Address Initiative to End State Income TaxStaff reports
03:37PM / Friday, October 24, 2008
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Despite indications that voters aren't being swayed by visions of extra cash in their paychecks next year, civic and community leaders aren't letting up on their battle against a ballot initiative to eliminate the state income tax.
A number of them will hold forth on the impact of a Question 1 passage today at 5 p.m. in the second-floor conference room in Massachusetts College of Liberal Art's Murdock Hall.
"It's a coalition coming together to explain the negative impact of the ballot question," said Mayor John Barrett III on Thursday. Barrett said he wasn't going to be able to make the forum (he has submitted a letter to be read) but wanted his name listed to show his solidarity with other local leaders.
The Center for Small Government and its president, Carla Howell, who's been able to get the initiative on the ballot for the second time in six years (it was barely defeated in 2002), says its passage will force the state to be more frugal and put about $3,600 back in workers' pockets.
Barrett and others say that may be true, but at the same time it will put greater pressure on municipalities to make up the difference. "They would have to find other ways to raise money."
State aid makes about 40 to 45 percent of the city's budget, said Barrett, and that's down from 60 percent in past years.
Question 1 opponents say it could leave the state gasping for funds, especially in light of downturns in revenue of all types during the ongoing financial crisis.
"Being a small town with more than 50 percent land mass already owned by the commonwealth, we have very little left to tax," said Clarksburg Selectman Carl McKinney on Wednesday. "That makes us heavily reliant on state aid."
As an example, McKinney said the town's school budget is $2.4 million but the town receives in excess of $1.7 million Chapter 70 education aid.
State Rep. Denis E. Guyer, D-Dalton, on Wednesday lauded the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce for coming out against Question 1. The governor has slashed $1 billion from this year's budget that has affected schools and programs throughout the Berkshires, he said, and the draconian cuts called for by Question 1 proponents — nearly half the budget — would devastate the county. Guyer's take on Question can be found here.
Barrett speculated that the state could turn to other taxes, such as a tax on food, to raise revenues. Towns and cities would have to consider raising property taxes: "That's the most regressive type of tax out there. ... I hate property taxes."
The mayor and others may be worrying over nothing — a new Suffolk University poll shows 59 percent of voters are ready to no on Question 1. |
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