By Maureen Sullivan and Laura Hayes
REGION – With four questions on the November ballot, local candidates weighed in on Question 1.
This is a proposed constitutional amendment, and it would add an additional 4% state income tax on that portion of annual taxable income in excess of $1 million. This income level would be adjusted annually, by the same method used for federal income-tax brackets, to reflect increases in the cost of living.
Revenues from this tax would be used, subject to appropriation by the state Legislature, for public education, public colleges and universities; and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation. The proposed amendment would apply to tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2023.
Local candidates Stephen Fishman, Kate Donaghue, Jamie Eldridge, Meghan Kilcoyne and Robyn Kennedy support the Question 1 with Fishman calling it “vital.”
“We need more money for education and infrastructure,” he said.
“While we’ve made strides to try to alleviate some of the underfunding that education has had over the years, it’s just going to continue,” Kilcoyne said. “I think all of the schools could use more help, especially [since] we’re still trying to recover from the two years of the pandemic and how that impacted our public education.”
Opponents shave said the amendment would adversely affect small business owners and retirees,
“[Small business owners] have worked hard for years or decades to build their nest eggs and depend on their retirement investments. They do not regularly have incomes exceeding $1 million, but would be subject to the increased tax when that are selling a business or seniors selling their home and assets to fund retirements,” said President/CEO of the Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of Commerce Karen Chapman in a letter to the editor.
Further, candidates Hannah Kane, Jonathan Hostage, Mike Vulcano and Lisa Mair oppose it.
“I voted against it in the legislature,” said Kane. “My primary concern is that there’s no guarantee that the money for education and transportation will be added to the investments.”
