BOSTON (AP) - A coalition of unions, service groups and municipal officials
is calling on Gov. Deval Patrick and Massachusetts lawmakers to back a hike in
the state income tax to help fend off budget cuts.
The group is pushing for an increase in the state income tax from 5.25
percent to 5.95 percent while also increasing the personal exemption they said
would ease the burden on low- and middle-income residents.
The group also wants higher tax rates on investment income.
The group - including the Massachusetts Teachers Union, the Massachusetts
AFL-CIO and several city councils and select boards - said the plan will raise
about $2 billion to improve schools, repair infrastructure and expand economic
development.
Anti-tax activists are pushing back against the call for new taxes saying
reforms and better management should come first.
