Oct 4, 2008 6:29 pm US/Eastern
Concern Raised About Income Tax Ballot Initiative
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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About 150 people attended a rally in favor of Question One, a ballot initiative that would eliminate the state income tax in Massachusetts.
WBZ
"I got schedule C-- tired of schedule C?"
With that, Committee for Small Government Chair Carla Howell ripped up a tax form on the stage at Faneuil Hall. About 150 people attended a rally in favor of
Question One, a ballot initiative that would
eliminate the state income tax in Massachusetts.
"State government has grown so dramatically in the last 10 years it's gotten too expensive to live in Massachusetts," said Rich Aucoin, a spokesman for supporters of Question One.
"Thirty-five billion dollars. That's how much the state government will have to spend once we end the income tax. Does $35 billion sound like enough money to you to run the state government?" Howell asked people at the rally.
Proponents say scrapping the state income tax will return $3,700 to the average taxpayer.
Mike Kozlowski, a small business owner in Worcester, argues that figure is misleading.
"While that's appealing in this kind of economy, you're not going to get $3,700 back. This is either going to be spent upping fees or on higher property taxes," he said.
Mike Flynn, a second-grade teacher, says he fears eliminating the income tax would directly affect his students.
"I think it's a reckless proposal," he said. "Education funding would be drastically reduced and we can't afford that."
Education and public safety officials -- some of whom rallied in Framingham Friday -- say ending the state's income tax would have a devastating impact on vital services in cities and towns.
There was an earlier attempt to end the income tax back in 2002. That measure didn't pass, but it did get 45 percent of the vote.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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