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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 2023 Page 11 MassFiscal comments on release of Gov. Healey’s tax package T he Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance (MassFiscal) applauded Governor Maura Healey for taking an incremental step towards positive tax reforms to help Massachusetts remain economically competitive and mitigate some of the negative effects of the recently passed Question 1 income tax hike. While a candidate for Governor, Healey repeatedly promised to cut taxes as her way to help voters deal with inflation and the high cost of living and doing business in Massachusetts. The November election saw the narrow passage of Question 1 implemented into law, which increased the state income tax rate by 80 percent on some small businesses, home sales, retirees and high-income earners. The Commonwealth’s economic competitiveness rankings have already begun to decline due to Question 1’s passage, and tax collections were 5 percent lower last month than in January of last year. According to recent reports, Massachusetts has lost over 100,000 residents since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those reports also show that the taxpayer-friendly states of New Hampshire and Florida were the top destinations for Massachusetts residents to escape to. “Governor Healey has taken a positive first step with this tax package. The reform of our estate tax in particular is much needed to remedy our state from its outlier status, and it’s a welcomed surprise that Governor Healey’s proposal on this tax is even more competitive than her predecessor’s. While many states are eliminating or moving to eliminate their estate taxes, including President Biden’s home state of Delaware, Massachusetts currently has one of the most punitive estate taxes in the country. This certainly contributes to the outflow of taxpayers from our state to more tax friendly states like New Hampshire and Florida,” noted MassFiscal Spokesperson/Board Member Paul Diego Craney. “Reforming the estate tax, as well as her proposed reform of the short-term capital gains tax, in which we are also an outlier, are both helpful moves. Ultimately, Massachusetts will still need bolder action if we’re to mitigate some of the damage done by the passage of Question 1. There are 32 other states in this country without any form of estate or inheritance tax and we should be following their lead in order to keep taxpayers in Massachusetts. We also continue to implore the Governor and Legislature to consider a broad-based approach to reducing taxes and specifically call for an examination of a reduction in the state income tax rate as the single best way to keep Massachusetts competitive,” said Craney. Society of Orpheus and Bacchus comes to Melrose for upcoming concert! T he second oldest collegiate a cappella group in the nation is holding an upcoming concert! Blue of a Kind – Melrose’s own a cappella ensemble – and Temple Beth Shalom are excited to announce that the Yale Society of Orpheus and Bacchus (affectionately known as the SOBs) are coming to Melrose for a one night only fundraiser! The details: Saturday, March 11, 7:00 p.m.; 21 East Foster St., Melrose, Mass.; Adults $20, Students $15, Under 12 $5. Tickets are available at: https:// yalesobs.ticketbud.com/thesobs-at-tbs. They are being hosted by their fundraising partner, Temple Beth Shalom and our own Blue of a Kind! The members of this group are “world class” a cappella stars and travel the country and the world to share their love of singing. Don’t miss this great night of a cappella music! Many Blue of a Kind fans know that their leader, Bob Eggers, is an alumnus of that bastion of all things a cappella, Yale. He is a former member of the Society of Orpheus and Bacchus and the Whiffenpoofs (the oldest college a cappella group in the nation). For more information about the Society of Orpheus and Bacchus: https://www.yalesobs.com/ – for more information about the Blue of a Kind: www.blueofakind.org MassFiscal launches grassroots campaign to urge Beacon Hill to include broad tax cuts and eliminations Massachusetts must try to compete with New Hampshire and Florida R ecently the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance (MassFiscal) announced the launch of their second grassroots advocacy campaign of the year, which is aimed at influencing Beacon Hill to support broad-based tax cuts and eliminations this legislative session. The campaign will run on social media pages and urge constituents to contact their lawmakers and Governor Maura Healey. While a candidate for Governor, Healey repeatedly promised to cut taxes as her way to help voters deal with inflation and the high cost of living and doing business in Massachusetts. The November Election also saw the narrow passage of Question 1, which increased the state income tax rate by 80 percent on some small businesses, home sales, retirees and high-income earners. Governor Healey announced this week that her tax cut plan includes a reduction in the state’s short-term capital gains tax rate and easing the harm of the estate tax. While these measures would be beneficial, they are not enough to undo the damage of Question 1 or help us to compete with states like New Hampshire and Florida. Reportedly, the Commonwealth’ economic competitiveness has declined due to Question 1’s passage. Massachusetts tax collections were 5 percent lower in January 2023 than in January 2022, and Massachusetts has lost over 100,000 residents and small businesses since the beginning of the pandemic. Those reports show that the taxpayer-friendly states of Florida and New Hampshire were the top destinations to which Massachusetts residents were escaping. Beacon Hill politicians must compare Massachusetts tax policies to those of states like Florida and New Hampshire if Massachusetts ever wants to be economically competitive. The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan, nonprofit tax organization in Washington, D.C., warned Massachusetts that after the passage of Question 1, our economy and competitiveness will suffer unless significant tax reductions and eliminations are made. The Tax Foundation warned, “Massachusetts’ tax competitiveness is expected to fall from 34th in 2023, there is little reato 46th son to believe that trend will slow down – especially as New Hampshire continues to phase out its tax on interest and dividends by 2027.” The Tax Foundation urged Beacon Hill to cut broad-based taxes and eliminate other taxS Advocate staff report augus Police are investigating last month’s recovery of three stolen Bobcat tractors on Cedar Glen Golf Course. Police got a tip that one Bobcat was there and they wound up finding three The three tractors – valued at about $75,000 apiece – were discovered in the maintenance garage area. They were stolen from Danvers, Middleton and Beverly, according to police. “The first one was stolen with a trailer,” Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli said. “It looks like the stolen trailer was used to transport the stolen Bobcats. The whole thing was very odd,” the chief said. The case remains under investigation. es, to benefit all taxpayers and not just specific groups. To read their warning, please click here: https://taxfoundation.org/question-1-massachusetts-millionaires-tax/ “It’s always welcomed news to see Beacon Hill politicians embrace tax reductions as a way to grow the economy. However, now is not the time for modest reforms. Our state lost over 100,000 residents and small businesses since the beginning of the pandemic and we are among the least competitive states in the entire county,” stated MassFiscal Spokesperson/Board Member Paul Diego Craney. “If the goal is to undo the damage associated with the narrow passage of Question 1 or to be competitive with states like New Hampshire and Florida, the top two destinations for where Massachusetts residents fled, these modest measures will not be enough. If Massachusetts wants to compete with New Hampshire and Florida, it’s worth remembering that these states don’t even have a state income tax or an estate tax,” continued Craney. “The Governor made a promise during the campaign and as Governor, she needs to deliver on those promises. The only way to contend with the most economically competitive states in the county is for Beacon Hill politicians to cut the state income tax rate for everyone, reduce the capital gains tax, reduce the corporate tax rate, eliminate the estate and inventory tax, and make it so municipalities have the resources they need to cut local property taxes. MassFiscal will be urging constituents to contact Beacon Hill politicians and ask them to put forward broad tax cuts and eliminations in order to compete with other states like New Hampshire and Florida,” continued Craney. “MassFiscal appreciates any reduction in taxes proposed by Beacon Hill politicians, however, now is not the time for modesty. The reality is the pandemic changed the landscape and Massachusetts cannot afford to lose another 100,000 residents and small businesses. Bold, broad based tax cuts and eliminations must be adopted otherwise the revived moniker ‘Taxachusetts’ will stick to our state for a long time,” concluded Craney. Police retrieve three stolen Bobcats from Cedar Glen Golf Course

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