Posted on 01/28/2009 10:51:07 AM PST by pabianice
BOSTON - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today proposed generating $587 million in new state revenue by increasing taxes on everything from hotel rooms to alcohol in an effort to fill a budget hole created by declining state revenues.
Governor Deval Patrick
The spending plan includes $1.6 billion in spending cuts and savings; withdraws $586 million from the rainy day fund; and anticipates $711 million from federal stimulus package that has yet to be approved by Congress.
The governor also announced midyear budget cuts that include slicing $191 million from state government spending and cutting $128 million from local aid, which will force local officials to close public schools, curtail library hours, and lay off teachers, police, and firefighters. Patrick plans to withdraw $327 million from the state rainy day fund and is anticipating $533 million in federal bailout to make it to the next fiscal year, which begins in July.
His plan for raising taxes and fees includes the following:
Meals tax -- increase the statewide meals tax by 1 percentage point, to 6 percent.
Hotel tax – increase the statewide hotel tax by 1 percentage point, to 6.75 percent. Combined with the meals tax, it would raise $150 million.
Alcohol tax – eliminate a tax exemption on nonrestaurant alcohol sales. The would mean a 5 percent tax would go on alcohol sold at package stores, raising nearly $90 million.
RMV fees – increase a variety of fees that residents pay when they go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. All told, $75 million would be raised.
Telecommunication tax – eliminate a tax exemption for telecommunications companies, which would raise about $50 million.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Kennedy Family Newsletter — nice.
This state is like something out of Atlas Shrugged.
Also, “Socialism is great until you run out of other people's money.” - Margaret Thatcher
You got to love these finely dressed thieves running MA!
Duval patrick ran on change
Aye they got change alright, eh finds money for homo violence groups and yet has no money for more important things to do
Message to all Dems thinking of leaving MA, don’t stay there do not bring your Dem voting pattern down south, it was your ignorance what ruined your state so do not bring it here and change our state..
Also for any conservatives not republicans but conservatives get out and move south and that message is for all north east conservatives, do not give them your money and your vote is a waste of time.
Am I the only one who would not lose any sleep if the north east just joined with IL and Quebec?
I was reading in my old local newspaper (MetroWest Daily) a few weeks back and some of the local libs were writing Op-Eds saying that cuts should not target a single social worker, city worker, or state worker. Why? Because they work hard and don’t get near as many accolades as other workers. They should not need to worry about their jobs... How heart-wrenching. As if only those in the Private Sector should be effected by an economic downturn....
Doofus Patrick’s cuts do not go deep enough. The problem with the Massholes in the state legislature is that they have never found a program they would not fund. Entire programs need to be zeroed out and Zero-junior is unlikely to submit a budget with any program zeroed out and the state legislature is unlikely to cut a dime from the budget...where by Masshole standards any increase to a program of less than twice the rate of inflation is a “cut”.
The voters of this foolish state are getting EXACTLY what they voluntarily voted for. They had the chance and told the politicians, “Thank you, sir, may I have another?” So, across the state restaurants are closing due to lack of patronage...the state’s solution...RAISE the cost of going out to eat. Also people, a tax increase from 5% to 6% is NOT a stupid 1% increase. Those of you who finished school MORE than 20 years ago, may be able to do the arithmetic and be aware that it is a 20% INCREASE. 1 of 5 is 1/5 is 20%. That is called “OLDE math”. What the hell did you expect??
MA voters had a chance in November to eliminate the state income tax. They said “Hell No!”
This state is like something out of Atlas Shrugged.
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The last/last time there was a vote to rollback/eliminate state income tax the majority said “Hell. Yes”
and they didn’t do it.
~Got us coming and going~
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