There should be no doubt that late budgets cause problems, though not the problems cited by Moody’s. For example, Moody’s worried that local governments would not receive monthly payments. The Commonwealth’s interim budget legislation is brief (less than 250 words), but it authorizes local aid…

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts may be on track to end fiscal year 2019 with a surplus of approximately $522 million according to a new analysis. MTF outlined a framework for handling any fiscal 2019 surplus, including (1) Add to the state’s “rainy day” fund; (2) Pay down unfunded pension and…

BOSTON (CBS) – Eileen McAnneny, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, joined WBZ-TV political analyst Jon Keller this week on Keller @ Large to discuss the state of tax issues in the state.

Casino revenue is “not a panacea,” said Eileen McAnneny, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a fiscal watchdog group. “Nor will it solve the Commonwealth’s long-term fiscal challenges by any stretch,” though it could help fund new or supplement existing services.

As you know, tax revenue collections through May 2019 exceeded expectations by $952 million. If this strength continues through June, budgeted tax revenue will grow nearly seven percent over the strong fiscal 2018 collections.

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation asks lawmakers to consider five questions before casting their votes: 1) Does this income tax surcharge meet the standards of a sound tax policy? 2) Will the estimated $1.9 billion in new tax revenue materialize? 3) Will overall spending on transportation and…

Last week, the Massachusetts State Senate finalized its version of the fiscal year 2020 budget after considering the Senate Committee on Ways and Means (SWM) budget proposal and the 1,142 amendments filed by Senators. The differences between the House and Senate versions will now be resolved by a…

On May 7, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means (SWM) unveiled their budget proposal for state fiscal year 2020, which begins July 1, 2019. The proposal, the first under new Chair Michael J. Rodrigues, authorizes $43.2 billion in spending in fiscal 2020.1 This policy brief highlights key elements…

Eileen McAnneny, the President of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation (MTF), reacted today to the announcement of April tax revenue collections by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR). “Robust revenue collection is a good news story,” said McAnneny. “But given how volatile tax…