[Concord, MA] Push starts for local income tax

The Boston Globe ^ | February 14, 2010 | Jennifer Fenn Lefferts

[cmj328]

As part of an effort to make Concord more affordable and diverse, local officials want to shift the tax burden off most property owners and onto the town’s wealthiest residents.

The long-shot proposal, which some say is unconstitutional, calls for imposing a local income tax to help offset the town’s dependence on property taxes to fund its operations.

“It’s not a tax increase, but a shifting of the burden,’

[snip]

“If we’re lucky, this could happen in 15 to 20 years. But if you don’t start somewhere, it would never ever happen.’’

[cmj328]

A subtle way to override Prop 2 1/2 as well...

As Barbara Anderson of Citizens for Limited Taxation says, "We have plenty of taxes in Massachusetts and it’s wasted enough already."

[the invisib1e hand]

the shot heard round the world?

[the invisib1e hand]

gee, they ought to have a tea party...

[john drake]

darn, you beat me to it.

[the invisib1e hand]

it was sooooo easy.

[Gay State Conservative]

Well,they’ve got that new local option meals tax (which,along with the increase in the sales tax,I hope is repealed).But even before Scott Brown,Gay State voters have consistently opposed a graduated income tax and I thing this opposition will transfer over to local income taxes.

[bfree]

Are the going to stop the wealthy from posting a For Sale sign?

[tflabo]

local officials want to shift the tax burden off most property owners and onto the town’s wealthiest residents.

The wealthy just call in the moving vans and there goes the tax revenues. These government morons NEVER learn.

[Sparky1776]

“Well,they’ve got that new local option meals tax......”

And the traffic light cameras.

[Our man in washington]

How will Concord keep its rich citizens from moving to another town? Or out of the state altogether?

[rlmorel]

Good God. My dad was a plankowner in Citizens for Limited Taxation (I think he joined in 1974...so I always assumed that) and he must be spinning in his grave down in Arlington.

I just cannot for the life of me believe this. In Concord, of all places. I know it it a big lefty haven, but...this? Ugh.

[jeffc]

As part of an effort to make Concord more affordable and diverse...

Why don't they just drop taxes? Why do they have to be "shifted"? And what's this "diversity" thing?

[LostInBayport]

But even before Scott Brown,Gay State voters have consistently opposed a graduated income tax and I thing this opposition will transfer over to local income taxes.

Especially if the sales tax rollback (from the obscene 6.25% to 3%) is approved via referendum in November. That may be enough to encourage Concord to drop what is essentially a death sentence for the businesses in their town.

[Myrddin]

Moving vans and "for sale" signs on the property are the expected response. There are plenty of better places to live that don't tax the hell out of their residents. It could raise unemployment by driving away "the rich" small business owners and their former employees. The Buck Knife company started life in Mountain Home, ID. They relocated to El Cajon, CA where the company flourished until outrageous tax increases and the cost of electricity drove them away. They returned to Idaho and set up shop in Post Falls. My employer is present in multiple states. Our employee base has been falling in CA for some time due to the uncompetitive labor costs and high taxes. We recently instituted a new time card system where you are required to record the actual zip code where the physical work is performed. That impacts how corporate taxes are allocated.

[Gay State Conservative]

Especially if the sales tax rollback (from the obscene 6.25% to 3%) is approved via referendum in November.

Is it gonna be on the ballot this November?? If so,I'm thrilled....and surprised that I didn't hear of it sooner.

[Myrddin]

You want obscene? Try a sales tax of 8.75% in El Cajon, CA. I was so happy to return to Pocatello, ID where it is only 6%. It would be nice to drop back to 5%. The sales tax was raised in exchange for a drop in property taxes. That was good for a year. The county assessor just re-evaluated my property from $195K to $236K. Bye bye tax savings. The rates went down, but the property value was raised to "compensate" so they didn't "lose" any revenue.

[Gay State Conservative]

Why don't they just drop taxes?

Because it's Massachusetts.Here,we *raise* taxes...never lower them.

[Eska]

Alaska, doesn't have state sales or income taxes; many areas no prop taxes. In MatSu, back in early 90's had what people thought were high prop taxes. Palin suggested to impose 1.5% local sales tax with dollar for dollar coming off prop taxes. People told Palin, no way, other council members would try keeping both taxes. Palin said she would not let them do it; so people voted for it with Palin's promise. So, sure enough the other members tried keeping both taxes;;; but Palin stopped them cold; how Palin first got her start; gained the trust of people.

You really have to watch it all close, so you don't end up with 2 taxes. In the end, prop taxes went down by 1/2.

[Gay State Conservative]

Although I'm no expert on Alaska politics my hunch is that Alaska and Massachusetts see things quite differently when it comes to taxes (and other things as well).Here,RAT politicians (which make up 90% of our state Legislature) think that *all* money belongs to the government.

[Secret Agent Man]

In an ‘unrelated’ story, Concord real estate brokers are enjoying a 400% increase in listings...