Personal Income Tax in Massachusetts to Be Voted On

This November the citizens of Massachusetts will decide if they want to eliminate the State personal income tax.This is question #1 on this years ballot.

A vote of "Yes" would "A reduce the state personal income tax rate to 2.65% for the tax year beginning on January 1, 2009, and would eliminate the tax for all tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2010." according to the Information for Voters brochure mailed to citizens. A vote of "No" would make no changes.

Some of the arguments in favor are that there is approximately 41% waste in Massachusetts state government. For 3,400,000 Massachusetts workers a vote of "yes" will give back $3,700 each year, to each worker. Hundreds of thousands of jobs will be created in Massachusetts, a state where the unemployment rate is high.A "yes" vote will not raise property or other taxes, will not cut essential government services, but will roll back the states government spending 27%.

A vote of "No" opponents claim will cut state aid to cities and towns, driving up property taxes and reduce funding for local services. However the Massachusetts State lottery, with a revenue of $4 billion dollars, has distributed $935 million dollars to cities and towns in Massachusetts last year, according to their website.

They also claim it would effect the number of teachers, police, correction officers,and emergency medical services. Massachusetts prisons are "bursting at the seam",and a reduction in the prison population would mean more money for education.

What will happen if the voters are in favor of eliminating the personal income tax, will mean instead of the government spending the extra money, each of the 3,400.000 workers in Massachusetts will decide on how they want their own money spent.

The "Center for Small Government" has a website where you can read more about Question 1.

Source:
mailed brochure received from The Secretary of the Commonwealth

Massachusetts lottery
http://www.masslottery.com/