Without making recommendations, this pamphlet compares Massachusetts taxes with those of other States, projects major tax revenues, compares growth experience of major taxes, considers the incidence of various taxes on high and low income groups, examines recent tax legislation, shows what revenues could be expected with changed tax rates, and…

This practicum report describes a step-by-step plan followed by the author and his employer, the Massachusetts Teachers' Association (MTA), to correct the fiscal disparities that existed in the Massachusetts school finance system and to provide property tax relief to Massachusetts taxpayers. The plan included assessing the existing Massachusetts…

This paper uses data from a large statewide survey of Massachusetts residents to measure support for Proposition 2 1/2. Proposition 2 1/2 required high tax rate communities to reduce property tax levies 15 percent per year until the tax rate is reduced to the maximum allowable rate of 2 1/2 percent of full and fair market value. Specifically, this…

This paper focuses on the characteristics of Massachusetts voters who support Proposition 2 1/2, a stringent property tax limitation measure. Section I uses cross-tabular analysis to examine variations in support for the tax limitation measure across a number of demographic, household, and municipal characteristics, as well as attitudinal…

This paper uses data obtained by a large statewide survey of Massachusetts residents to measure the relative importance of certain motivations in influencing the overall statewide vote on Proposition 2 1/2. Proposition 2 1/2 severely restricts the ability of Massachusetts cities and towns to raise tax revenue for local services. Interviews were…