Will No Sale Tax vote pass in Massachusetts? (sales, real estate)

[TootsieWootsie]

Mass. residents will be voting soon on a Bill that says no sales tax for Massachusetts. What is the media saying there? Will it pass or not? Should keep some from moving to New Hampshire I should think.

[CaseyB]

Oh, I think you misheard. Ballot question #1 is to repeal the income tax, not sales tax. I don't think anybody moves to NH because of the sales tax issue - they just shop there to avoid the tax.

New Hampshire has no sales OR income tax.

[litlux]

And hidden in the income tax repeal are certain capital gains tax benefits for the rich folks.

But this has been attempted before and will not pass. Cut the state income tax and the money that goes to the cities and towns dries up, and the real estate taxes skyrocket.

As it is, Duval Patrick is cutting a billion dollars from the state budget, and it is affecting everything. There are tough times ahead without the repeal, and with no income tax, the state would empty out rather than fill up. Businesses depend on state services as well as the public.

[LeavingMA]

I would like the ballot question 1 regarding the state income tax to pass, but it most likely won't pass. They already have used all those scare tactics in the commercials so people will vote no.

[TomDot]

Originally Posted by litlux

And hidden in the income tax repeal are certain capital gains tax benefits for the rich folks.

But this has been attempted before and will not pass. Cut the state income tax and the money that goes to the cities and towns dries up, and the real estate taxes skyrocket.

As it is, Duval Patrick is cutting a billion dollars from the state budget, and it is affecting everything. There are tough times ahead without the repeal, and with no income tax, the state would empty out rather than fill up. Businesses depend on state services as well as the public.

Here we go with the liberal class warfare garbage.
When all else fails just mention benefits for the rich?

Real estate tax cannot go up unless the people in the towns vote for prop 2.5 overrides.

Do you really think that businesses leave when taxes go down?
That is one of the funniest statements that I have heard on City Data.

[TootsieWootsie]

Where is my head? Sorry, I did mean the State income tax. Must have been tired. Anyway, is the election on November 4th? If so, I, for one, am curious as all getout at to what will happen.
I wonder why Massachusetts, of all States, would want to repeal their State income tax?

[mobster75]

Hi TootsieWootsie,

The argument against the income tax here in Mass. is that the state government has been recklessly spending w/o abandon over the past 2 decades. Since 1989, the state budget has grown from approx. $12 billion to $23 billion and no one is quite sure where all the money is going.

The "Yes on 1" folks are looking to send a clear message to the politicians: We want change, we want to eliminate unnecessary spending, we want accountability.

Voting yes on #1 will cut $12 billion out of the state's grubby little hands.

We'll see how it shakes out tomorrow.

[pjscdn]

I do not think this will pass. It is too drastic a cut in funding. However, I absolutely do agree with those who support the rationale behind the measure. Unlike the voters, the state does not live within its means, and still continues to displays outright contempt for the voting public. It seems the mentality that the people serve the government is still alive in this state.
I would think an alternative proposal presented to the voters, perhaps a reduction in the tax rate, would pass. I also support a proposal to enforce term limits. We just have too many career politicians.

[brightdoglover]

I don't know what to think. My own town is already hurting for state sharing aid, and doesn't live big at all. I suspect it's the same for many towns across the state. I don't think you can just end a tax by referendum without a plan or blueprint for how to either replace it or cut down without throwing services into the ditch (fire, police, seniors, etc.). I also wouldn't want my real estate tax to go up anywhere near New Hampshire's to replace it. I already pay $4400/year for a two-bedroom house on a half-acre, and it's all for the schools. I notice that renters don't pay any kind of tax for schools. Maybe renters with kids should pay a tax? I don't mind paying towards schools, but it's not good when the r.e. tax is the only one in town. Ask anyone who lives in one of the "giver" towns in NH about their taxes. Friends of mine were paying $6K as year for a very beat up farmhouse because their town had been designated an affluent "giving" town, based on who knows what.

[CaseyB]

The voters approved a ballot question in 2000, to bring the income tax back down to 5% from 5.75%. Even though it was binding, the legislature chose to ignore it and only reduce it to 5.3%.

Eliminating the income tax altogether got about 40% of the vote the last time it was on the ballot.

Renters do pay property taxes - just not directly. It goes to the landlord who pays them.