Page 67 - BusinessWest October 31, 2022

Million-dollar Question
Ballot Effort to Levy 4% Tax on High Earners Finds Support in Poll
Anew poll of Massachusetts voters conducted by Suffolk University, the Boston Globe, NBC10 Boston, and Telemundo found that 58% of respondents support ballot Question 1, compared to 37% in opposition. Question 1, on the Massachusetts ballot on Nov. 8, would create a 4% tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and require that the funds be spent only on transportation and public education.
“ A few billionaires are trying to mislead voters about what Question 1 does, but our grassroots supporters are having thousands of conversations every day to combat their misinformation.”
“Tens of thousands of educators, workers, small-business owners, parents, faith leaders, municipal officials, drivers and transit riders, and more than 500 organizations across the state are all working together to pass Question
1 in November,” said Lillian Lanier, field direc- tor for Fair Share for Massachusetts, the lead- ing advocacy group working to pass the ballot initiative. “We’re supporting Question 1 because we know it will help improve our schools and transportation infrastructure, and only the very rich will pay more. A few billionaires are trying to mislead voters about what Question 1 does, but our grassroots supporters are having thou- sands of conversations every day to combat their misinformation.”
That survey result may be concerning to the Coalition to Stop the Tax Hike Amendment, the leading collection of organizations opposed to the initiative, claiming to represent more than 25,000 small businesses, in addition to thousands of homeowners, retirees, farmers, and large employers.
“If passed, Question 1 would be one of the highest tax hikes in Massachusetts history, immediately and permanently implementing
an 80% tax increase and threatening small busi- nesses across the state,” the coalition argues. “Question 1 captures tens of thousands of small- business owners who do not make more than $1 million per year and are working hard to rebuild after the negative impacts of the pandemic. At
a time when we should be helping our small businesses recover, small-business owners will
“Many of these organizations could see their taxes nearly double under Question 1. This constitutional amendment will devastate our local economy and threaten small businesses statewide.”
instead be left reeling from a new, unprecedent- ed financial hit.”
As written, the proposed amendment to Arti- cle 44 of the Massachusetts Constitution states that, “to provide the resources for quality public education and affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges, and public transportation, all revenues received in accordance with this para- graph shall be expended, subject to appropria- tion, only for these purposes.
Question 1
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