Reasons to Vote No on Question 1

[asterroc]

In November, Massachusetts ballots will have the question "should we repeal the state income tax." The supporters say it will give each citizen back an average of $3,600. For everyone else, consider that the income tax represents 37% of the state budget, or $12 billion. I urge all Massachusetts citizens to vote NO on this question (Question 1, and it will be on the back of the ballot with the presidents on the front). To this end, I'm going to post some reasons why you should vote against Question 1.

The reason of the day:

"The state could fire all 67,000 state employees - every prison guard and college teacher - and still have to find another $7 billion." --The Boston Globe

Comments

[ayashi.livejournal.com]

How do other states make up the difference?

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

What difference? How many states actually don't have an income tax?

Okay I just looked it up, and seven states in the US don't have state income tax, and I'm under the impression they make it up with sales tax and property tax (as mentioned by spazzy444 above for TX). IIRC NH doesn't have sales tax and only has some income tax (not on salary/wages, but does tax bank interest), and as a result they have high property taxes AND rank low down on how much money they pull in (#48 both in terms of $$/capita, and % of state budget that comes from tax). NH being a libertarian state (IIRC), I wouldn't be surprised if they as a result cut services.

[kadath.livejournal.com]

NH funds its government by property taxes, which results in sharp gradients in quality of services from one town to the next, depending on property values. NH also has a tiny population that's mostly located in the southern area of the state.

Other states hike their sales tax, and sales taxes are regressive and penalize the poorest citizens.

[ayashi.livejournal.com]

Interesting, thanks :)

If not for your post I wouldn't know what Question No 1 was just yet. But I've seen a lot of signs around Brookline, in yards "Vote No on Question No1, it's a reckless idea" and after reading your posts I agree!

[weirdlilfaechld.livejournal.com]

Nevada's state income tax = tourists.