Legislature's Revenue Committee Meeting in Pittsfield
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The committee, made up members of both the state Senate and House, will be at Berkshire Community College's Boland Theater from 10 to noon for for a public forum. It's one stop on a traveling tour across the state.
During the Pittsfield session, the committee focus will be on how state tax policies affect economic development as well as Main Streets. Co-Chairmen Sen. Benjamin B. Downin, D-Pittsfield, and Rep. Jay R. Kaufman, D-Lexington, will facilitate audience discussion and questions following a brief overview of the topic given by professor Stephen Sheppard, chairman of the economics department at Williams College.
During the tour, the committee will visit different regions and each session will focus on the impact of various tax policies. Each stop will begin with a brief snapshot of the current revenue picture in Massachusetts. Thee events are open for the public to participate.
"The implementation of state tax policy affects every Massachusetts resident," said Downing. "The information gathered at these regional forums will be invaluable to the Committee as we continue to consider and deliberate on initiatives before us."
Kaufman said the forums will allow legislators to hear directly from the public about concerns as to how tax policy can affect strained state and local revenues.
"It is critical to evaluate these policies and address local revenue concerns together as a community," said Downing. "As we strive to maintain adequate levels of services for those most in need, we must take a hard look at the structure of our tax policy to better evaluate its long-term sufficiency," he said.
The committee will next meet in Fall River on Oct. 28 to discuss property taxes and in Cambridge on Nov. 5 on working families.
