Question 4 seeks to lower the income tax rate in Massachusetts to 5 percent.
A "Yes" vote supports bringing the state's income tax down to 5.6 percent in 2001, 5.3 percent in 2002 and 5 percent in 2003 and thereafter. The present tax rate is 5.85 percent.
A "No" vote seeks to maintain the present tax rate, which is scheduled to drop to 5.75 percent
by legislative decree in January.
In 1989, the state Legislature made us a promise. It would raise taxes on a temporary basis to
get through a period of financial peril. More than 10 years later our economy is booming, our
residents have jobs and there's been a surplus in the state budget for the past few years. Yet
we're still paying the increased amount in taxes.
We have few opportunities to hold our Legislature to its word. Campaign promises are often broken with few if any consequences. Now is our chance to hold government to its word
and put some extra cash into our pockets.
Critics claim that Question 4, if passed, could have dire repercussions for schools and other
community projects across the state. But they also cannot guarantee that if we continue to pay
the present amount that Route 12 will be widened any more quickly, or that sidewalks will be
installed on Ashby State Road in Fitchburg any sooner, or that Leominster will ever get
adequate parking at its train depot.
We have been paying year after year, and still have seen no progress on any of these projects.
Instead, we see a surplus of funds at the state level for legislators to spend as they wish. It's
proof that not every problem is solved by throwing money around. Just look at the Big Dig.
If we take our money back, we can force state lawmakers to adhere to fiscal responsibility, to
solve problems with their heads rather than with our pocketbooks.
We favor a "Yes" vote on Question 4.