A technical objection should not deny voters the right decide whether to lower the income tax rate By Robert Cordy A Popular Proposal to lower the Massachusetts state income tax rate is tied up in a legal challenge at the state’s Supreme Judicial Court. The complaint is political posturing, not legal substance. The proposal itself is straightforward: reduce the state income tax rate from 5 percent to 4 percent over the course of three years. The lawsuit challenging it was bro

By Paris Hugley A proposed 2026 ballot question to lower the Massachusetts income tax rate from 5% to 4% would cut household tax bills across the state but also blow a multibillion-dollar hole in state finances and force significant budget decisions on Beacon Hill, according to a recent Tufts University analysis. The report from the Center for State Policy Analysis estimates the measure would reduce the state income tax collections by 18.9% and total state tax revenue by abou

By Barry Richard It's beginning to look like only the politicians, the ones who tax you and then spend your money, oppose a ballot question that would roll back the Massachusetts Income Tax from five percent to four percent over three years. Polling Shows Strong Support for Massachusetts Tax Rollback A tax rollback could appear on the November 2026 ballot, and recent polling indicates taxpayers support it. A University of New Hampshire Survey Center Poll found 58 percent of r

By Kara Miller If there’s a group of people you probably don’t spend a lot of time worrying about, it’s those with tens — or hundreds — of millions of dollars. But Paul Karger argues you should. At least, you should worry when they start heading for the exits . Which is precisely what they’ve done in Massachusetts, says Karger, the cofounder and managing partner of Boston-based Twin Focus, a firm that manages investment portfolios for wealthy families. “Half of my Massachuse

Supporters of the Massachusetts 5% to 4% income tax ballot question dispute claims it would trigger $5 billion in budget cuts, arguing the proposal would boost economic growth and affordability statewide. By Tom Joyce Taxpayers for an Affordable Massachusetts is pushing back against claims that reducing the state income tax rate from 5% to 4% would force $5 billion in automatic budget cuts. The coalition says opponents are relying on exaggerated figures to block what it calls

Boston, MA – Lots of voices are weighing in on the 2026 ballot question proposing to reduce the income tax from 5% to 4% over three years. This is an important debate — and it should be grounded in facts. A family earning the average household income in Massachusetts would save approximately $1,300 annually once fully implemented. Allowing residents to retain more of their earnings strengthens household budgets, supports local economic activity, and directly affects Massac

By NightSide with Dan Rea Another Massachusetts initiative is making its way to the ballot this Fall, and it involves a petition to lower the state's income tax from 5% to 4%. What are the pros and cons of this proposal? Those in favor of the initiative say it will put $1,300 (on average) back in the pockets of working families across the Commonwealth, while those who oppose the initiative fear that by reducing the state tax revenue, it would force cuts to local aid and publi

When tens of thousands of people leave year after year, they’re answering a question with their feet. By Jeff Jacoby The latest Census Bureau population estimates landed last week, and Massachusetts once again finds itself near the top of an unenviable list: states losing more residents to other states than they gain. In the 12 months ending July 1, 2025, the Commonwealth experienced a net loss of more than 33,000 residents, who left for greener pastures elsewhere in the Unit

Factory will shut down in April, taking 49 jobs with it By Tim Dunn In just a matter of months, Cape Cod Potato Chips will no longer be made on Cape Cod. Parent company Campbell’s, the soup maker, announced that it will be shutting down its Hyannis facility in April and moving production to facilities in North Carolina, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. The closure of the facility is also resulting in the elimination of 49 jobs after over 40 years of operations on Cape Cod. “The C

By Marilyn Schairer New census data show that more residents moved out of Massachusetts last year compared to 2024. If the trend worsens like it has after the pandemic, experts say that could impact the future of the state’s economy. Massachusetts’ population still grew, with more births than deaths and international immigration. But, domestically, 33,000 more people moved out of state than arrived to Massachusetts in 2025, the U.S. Census bureau’s release shows. Like every s

By Larry Edelman Watch your back, Massachusetts. Commonwealth residents continue to earn the highest incomes in the country, but other states are closing the gap, including New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The latest: The typical Massachusetts household earned $131,675 annually over the 2020-2024 period, a 4.1 percent increase from 2015-2019 after adjusting for inflation, according to Census Bureau statistics released Thursday. Up in New Hampshire, the median household income

By Colin A. Young [Coverage Developing] State officials agreed Wednesday to build their next annual budgets on the estimate that Massachusetts will collect $44.9 billion in tax revenue, 2.9% more than is expected to come in this year. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz said their consensus revenue agreement includes revenue from the surtax on high-earning hou

By Esmy Jimenez, Aaron Pressman, and Mara Kardas-Nelson Alexa Arena, a 35-year-old college-educated professional, moved in with her parents to save on rent. Though she works full time, the classic trappings of a middle-class life — the kind she had growing up — now feel out of reach. “I don’t even know what the middle is anymore.” she said. “I’ve been living basically paycheck to paycheck.” Lynn Handly, 61, a state worker living in Brockton, began living alone for the first