Mass DOR: December Revenue Collections Total $4.062 Billion

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BOSTON — Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder announced that preliminary revenue collections for December totaled $4.062 billion, $285 million or 6.6 percent less than actual collections in December 2024, and $167 million or 4.0 percent below benchmark.
 
FY2026 year-to-date collections totaled approximately $19.636 billion, which is $375 million or 1.9 percent more than actual collections in the same period of FY2025, and $23 million or 0.1 percent above the year-to-date benchmark.
 
"December 2025 revenue included decreases relative to December 2024 collections in non-withholding income tax, corporate and business tax, and ‘all other tax'" said Commissioner Snyder. "These decreases were partially offset by an increase in withholding income tax and sales tax. The decrease in non-withholding income tax is driven by a decrease in estimated and return payments and an unfavorable increase in refunds. The decrease in corporate and business tax is due to a decrease in estimated and return payments as well as an unfavorable increase in refunds.  The decrease in ‘all other' tax is mostly due to a decrease in estate tax, a category that tends to fluctuate."
 
December is a significant month for revenues because many corporate and business taxpayers are required to make quarterly estimated payments. In addition, some quarterly personal income tax estimated payments due by January 15th are received in December. Historically, roughly 9.5 percent of annual revenue, on average, has been received during December.
 
Given the brief period covered in the report, December results should not be used as a predictor for the rest of the fiscal year.
 
Details:
 
Income tax collections for December totaled $2.465 billion, $27 million or 1.1 percent below benchmark, and $28 million or 1.1 percent less than December 2024.
 
Withholding tax collections for December totaled $1.818 billion, $7 million or 0.4 percent above benchmark, and $66 million or 3.8 percent more than December 2024.
 
Income tax estimated payments for December totaled $599 million, virtually equal to monthly benchmark, but $11 million or 1.8 percent less than December 2024.
 
Income tax returns and bills for December totaled $126 million, $17 million or 15.2 percent above benchmark, but $32 million or 20.0 percent less than December 2024.
 
Income tax cash refunds for December totaled $78 million in outflows, $51 million or 189.2 percent above benchmark, and $52 million or 203.7 percent more than December 2024.
 
Sales and use tax collections for December totaled $874 million, $25 million or 3.0 percent above benchmark, and $10 million or 1.2 percent more than December 2024.
 
Corporate and business tax collections for December totaled $531 million, $160 million or 23.2 percent below benchmark, and $138 million or 20.6 percent less than December 2024.
 
"All other" tax collections for December totaled $192 million, $6 million or 2.8 percent below benchmark, and $129 million or 40.2 percent less than December 2024.
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Pittsfield Schools Officials See FY27 Budget for 13 Schools

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Right after the School Committee voted to close Morningside Community School, members saw how it will affect the fiscal year 2027 budget

The $87,200,061 budget for FY27 remains, but funds that would have gone to Morningside are following students to four other schools. 

"As we look at the high-level totals, you notice that the total budget amount is the same. We only have so many dollars to work with. Even though that doesn't change, the composition of spending changes," Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Bonnie Howland explained. 

Mayor Peter Marchetti, chair of the School Committee, said this year's budget process was "extremely confusing," because of coming changes within the Pittsfield Public Schools, including the middle school restructuring. 

The proposed FY27 budget for the School Department includes $68,886,061 in state Chapter 70 funding and $18 million from the city.  A 13-school plan, excluding Morningside, saves in instruction, school services, and operations and maintenance, allowing those funds to be reinvested across the district. 

Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee released a budget that brings an additional $858,660 to PPS. This includes a rate of $160 per pupil minimum school aid, and Fair Share Amendment earmarks secured by state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and state Sen. Paul Mark. 

Morningside's pupils will be reassigned to Allendale, Capeless, Egremont, and Williams elementary schools.  For fiscal year 2027, the district had allocated about $5.2 million for Morningside.

Officials identified school's lack of classroom walls as the most significant obstacle, creating a difficult and noisy learning environment that is reflected in its accountability score.

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