MTF President Michael Widmer presented an overview of state and local finances to the Boston Municipal Analyst Forum

In a presentation to business and government leaders, MTF President Michael Widmer described the global recession's enormous impact on state and local finances and the state's dependence on $5 billion of one-time state and federal funds to balance the fiscal 2009 and 2010 budgets. Because of the…

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation recently received a prestigious national award for its research and public education on the fiscal and economic impact of the November 2008 ballot question to repeal the state income tax. The Foundation was awarded a Certificate of Merit in the Most Effective…

State tax revenues likely to collapse an unprecedented $3.1 billion from fiscal 2008, according to a new revenue forecast released today by the Foundation.

The Foundation addresses several questions about an increase in the state's sales tax including how much would be raised, what it will cost the average taxpayer and how Massachusetts compares with other states.

At the request of the House Speaker and House Ways and Means Chair, MTF President Michael Widmer made a presentation for the full House of Representatives on the state's large and growing deficits.

The attached budget summary shows fiscal 2009 spending after the Governor's first round of "9C' cuts of $708 million and a savings of $100 million by extending from 2023 to 2025 the funding of the state's unfunded pension liabilities.  With these reductions, fiscal 2009 spending increased by 1…

The global economic recession will lead to a large decline in state tax revenues in fiscal 2009 and 2010, according to a forecast released today by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Driven by the global economic problems and the state's fiscal crisis, cities and towns are about to enter another period of cutbacks and serious retrenchment.Major cuts in state aid to local communities are virtually certain to take place in fiscal 2010, and perhaps beyond, at a time that state…

This report was prepared by: Global Insight, Inc.Sponsored by:Associated Industries of MassachusettsGreater Boston Chamber of CommerceMassachusetts Business RoundtableMassachusetts Taxpayers Foundation