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Wow look at the MA moonbat in here defending tax increases and spewing false information. They are so predictable.
Get a grip Mason, there is a huge exodus of conservatives moving to NH from MA. MA is a sinkhole that is going to bankrupt itself. Mark my words, MA will be bankrupt in 10 years.
So until then keep telling yourself how great MA is, I don't know who you're trying to convince us or you. We already know how much MA sucks.
I agree with you that Massachusetts has some fiscal issues that will make that state a ghost-town in the future. Their pension system alone will cost billions to fund. I bet in 10 years they will have an 8% sales tax and an income tax of close to 10%.
I agree with you that Massachusetts has some fiscal issues that will make that state a ghost-town in the future. Their pension system alone will cost billions to fund. I bet in 10 years they will have an 8% sales tax and an income tax of close to 10%.
I agree with you that Massachusetts has some fiscal issues that will make that state a ghost-town in the future. Their pension system alone will cost billions to fund. I bet in 10 years they will have an 8% sales tax and an income tax of close to 10%.
Mass is following CA and I don't think it will take 10 yrs to catch up.
I really think Mass opened up a can of worms by allowing for a "local tax option" on the rooms & meals tax of up to 2%. By allowing towns & cities to tax independent of the state the cities are going to ask that this power be expanded to the sales tax someday. Some cities, towns, and counties in the mid-west have sales taxes on the local level of almost 11% !!!
I thought the free AAA membership was a nice touch. Imagine stopping to help someone whose car has broken down at the side of the road in MA. They say no thanks as AAA is on the way and thank you for wanting to help. It very well may be that you as a taxpayer have already helped if that person has a free car from the state of MA....
Property taxes are also a more stable form of revenue and they also provide a check/balance of sorts, reasoning:
- Property taxes are stable (ie, tons of people don't just suddenly leave) so a town can do better long term planning. Long term planning & resource stability is KEY to efficiency.
- Property taxes are very direct. You get a "your bill is this". It allows residents to very plainly see when their taxes go up and how EXACTLY it impacts them; as a result it provides a better incentive for resident involvement in government.
- Lastly, most towns have property tax adjustments for the elderly and sometimes for the poor. Additionally during a hard time residents may be able to workout a "payment plan" with their town. Also- residents have a very good idea of what their tax bill is going to be (barring rare exceptions), it easier to estimate future property taxes than to estimate future expenditures for goods & services.
I'm not criticizing the state of NH, as I love it and would love to live there and contribute. However, re: posters defending the property tax...their logic I don't follow.
To avoid sales tax, you can choose to buy fewer goods or buy them out of state. To lower income tax, you can work less or work out of state. But when you;re on a fixed income at, say, age 65, and your property taxes are now 5000-7000K or more a year and rising every year, do the math....what will they be like at age 70, 75, 80? Retirement income doesn't rise at the same rate (if at all) as fixed, inescapable expense. I also wonder about "saving thousands" in NH on car insurance and house insurance. I pay $80/month for my 2007 sedan, and $500/year for homeowner insurance with a $2500 deductible on a 1200 sq foot house. I can't see how that could be any cheaper in NH.
Cities & towns in Mass. are now heading into override votes. Can't wait!!!
I'm not criticizing the state of NH, as I love it and would love to live there and contribute. However, re: posters defending the property tax...their logic I don't follow.
To avoid sales tax, you can choose to buy fewer goods or buy them out of state. To lower income tax, you can work less or work out of state. But when you;re on a fixed income at, say, age 65, and your property taxes are now 5000-7000K or more a year and rising every year, do the math....what will they be like at age 70, 75, 80? Retirement income doesn't rise at the same rate (if at all) as fixed, inescapable expense. I also wonder about "saving thousands" in NH on car insurance and house insurance. I pay $80/month for my 2007 sedan, and $500/year for homeowner insurance with a $2500 deductible on a 1200 sq foot house. I can't see how that could be any cheaper in NH.
Cities & towns in Mass. are now heading into override votes. Can't wait!!!
It is similar to the sales tax situation. To avoid high property taxes, one can downsize to a property with lower property taxes or pay rent. Property taxes are an expense of owning a home, like utilities, insurance, etc. Many towns have discounted property tax for senior citizens. If the seniors own the home, they can get a reverse mortgage to help with their propery taxes and other expenses.
As for car insurance, I moved to NH from MA in 1995. The insurance for our two cars went from $2500/year to $1200/year. I was talking to my brother in law last year about car insurance and he pays over $5,000 per year for his three cars and I pay $2200. We have similar cars in value and teenage drivers (he has one, I have two).
As for home insurance, I don't believe there is much difference.
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