Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The program also allows users to develop their own plan and see its effects on their tax bill.
In an effort to further promote his proposed $34.8 billlion budget, Gov. Deval Patrick this week rolled out an online tool that would help families see the impact his proposed tax increases would have on their bottom line. The tool was released less than a week after Patrick unveiled 400 online maps showing what each district would receive in transportation and education benefits under his tax plan. "We are proposing meaningful investments in education and transportation, and people want to know what that means for them," Patrick said. "Last week, with the maps, we showed what long-postponed projects would get done in each community. Now, with this tool, we show just what the costs or savings will be for individual households." The …
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
A new online tool details how Gov. Deval Patrick's next budget would help Waltham.
In an effort to promote his $34.8 billion budget proposal, Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled an online tool that details how his fiscal 2014 budget would impact Waltham and other communities. According to the data center, Waltham would see a total of $2,345,211 in Chapter 90 funds which are used to build and maintain roads in communities. Waltham Public Schools would see an increase of $2,509,646 in Chapter 70 educational funding. In total, Waltham would receive $10,211,644. "Governor Patrick’s budget plan includes a $1 billion annual investment in the Commonwealth’s transportation system ... (and) includes a $550 million investment in education, reaching $1 billion over four years," an administration press release said. To pay for increases in…
Thursday, January 24, 2013
State Rep. Thomas Stanley, D-Waltham, says he won't have a "kneejerk" reaction to proposed tax increases.
One of Waltham’s state representatives said he and other lawmakers plans to carefully consider Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposed hikes in several taxes. “My approach is going to be to take time and read and comprehend all of the governor's proposals," said State Rep. Thomas Stanley, D-Waltham. Stanley, who also serves as a Waltham City Councilor, said he wants to carefully examine what impacts new taxes would have on public safety, local aid and taxpayers before taking a position on the issue. “We’re not going to make any kneejerk decisions,” Stanley said. Patrick’s plans include applying the sales tax to soda, candy and alcohol, which are currently exempt from taxation. He is also calling for a $1 tax hike on tobacco products to $3.51 in …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
The plan focuses on investments in transportation and education while calling for an income tax increase coupled with a lower sales tax.
In submitting his $34.8 billion budget to the Legislature Wednesday, Patrick said the proposed income tax hike is part of a comprehensive package aimed at investing in the state's infrastructure and in driving growth. The proposal asks for an increase in the income tax from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent coupled with a reduction in the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent. It also doubles personal exemptions. Despite the proposed income tax hike, Patrick says that low and modest-income workers will pay less in taxes under his proposal, and only the "more fortunate see a larger increase." "I do not submit this proposal lightly. I understand that many households in Massachusetts continue to struggle from the impact of the Great …
Friday, January 18, 2013
Some fees and taxes would increase steadily under Gov. Deval Patrick's plan to boost revenue.
Additional details have been revealed in Gov. Deval Patrick’s plan to increase state revenue, according to the Boston Globe. The plan, unveiled on Wednesday, Jan. 16, is intended to help for the state’s crumbling public transit system and early childhood education. TAX CHANGES For more details on the plan, visit the Boston Globe story.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Tell us: do you think Massachusetts needs to increase taxes to strengthen education and transportation?
In his State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday night, Gov. Deval Patrick proposed raising the state's income tax by a full percentage point and lowering the sales tax to pay for $2 billion worth of transportation improvements and early childhood education programs. "There is no good time to raise taxes. I know how tough the times have been on the people and families of the Commonwealth. And though the worst of the recession is over, many, many families still face tough decisions and have deep anxiety about the future. I would not ask if I did not believe in my heart that investing meaningfully today in education and transportation will significantly improve our economic tomorrows," Patrick said. Patrick said he wanted a more fair and…
The governor unveiled legislation Wednesday to strengthen gun laws in Massachusetts while increasing funding for mental health services. Sensible or reactionary?
Are new proposed laws regarding guns in Massachusetts and mental health services sensible and pragmatic steps, or reactionary measures that won't increase safety? Gov. Deval Patrick introduced new legislation Wednesday along those lines in the wake of the school shootings in Newtown, Conn. "I am encouraged by the palpable consensus in our Legislature that the time for action is now. All of us must pull in the same direction to bring about real change in this state and across the country," Patrick said in a press release. The bill would, among other things: Punishments for crimes involving guns would also sharpen, with tiered punishments for possessing different weapons on school property and giving police the authority to arrest without…
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Where and when to watch or listen to the Massachusetts governor's annual address tonight.
I would suspect that the governor's annual State of the State address is not, usually, a TV ratings champ. But tonight's speech, which starts at 7:30 p.m., may attract more viewers and listeners than usual. Why? Since it happens on the heels of Gov. Deval Patrick saying he wants to raise $1 billion by hiking the Massachusetts income tax. So you may want to watch tonight. When: 7:30 p.m. Where: CBS ABC NBC NECN Streamed live on boston.com Streamed live on http://www.malegislature.gov/ If you know of other websites, TV stations or radio stations carrying the State of the State live, please add them to the comment section below.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Doing away with local housing boards is Gov. Patrick's idea for slashing public housing cost and corruption. Do you think that's a good idea?
The Waltham Housing Authority, one of 240 public housing authorities across Massachusetts, would all but vanish as part of a proposal from Gov. Deval Patrick to streamline public housing management operations. The purpose of local housing authorities is to manage and maintain subsidized housing and, often, to advocate for affordable housing for lower-income residents. The administration reportedly estimates the consolidation would save more than $10 million a year in salaries and administrative costs. According to the Boston Globe, while Gov. Patrick's proposal would centralize public housing management into six regional offices, a small number of managers and maintenance workers would remain at local housing authorities. And, says the …
Monday, November 12, 2012
A Waltham High School student recently inspired Gov. Deval Patrick!
Not many kids can say they inspired Gov. Deval Patrick, but Waltham High School student Stephanie Padilla did. "I kind of just told him how his story inspired me," Padilla said of how her struggles as a young, poor student inspired Patrick, with whom she shares a similar personal story. Their chance encounter, through written letters, started over the summer when, Jennifer Barsamian, one of Padilla’s teachers, started reading Patrick’s book, “A Reason To Believe: Lessons From An Improbable Life.” According to an Amazon.com summary of the book, Patrick tells of his struggles as a poor student in Chicago to his ascension to the governor’s office in 2006. Patrick's message resounded with Barsamian, who said she later told her students of …
JohnnyMass
9:05 am on Sunday, January 27, 2013
This latest round of tax increases will pass, because the House and Senate Democrats will rubber-stamp anything that King Deval proposes. Few (if any) have the guts to step out of line. I haven't forgotten, either, that Stanley wouldn't let the gay marriage issue get to the voters (where it would have rightfully crashed and burned)! more ›