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Hopkinton home values rise

abagley — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:32:34 -0600

“It's consistent with our general sense of the slowly, very slowly, improving Massachusetts economy, and housing with it,” said Michael Widmer, president of the nonpartisan, business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Gov's plan 'tight'

abagley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:24:50 -0600

"This puts the pressure on the Legislature, because if you don't get the new savings and the new revenues, you'll have to cut more deeply than the governor has in this budget," said Michael Widmer, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Editorial: Pay-as-you-go plan must come to an end

abagley — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:23:08 -0600

Springfield has $761.6 million in the unfunded liabilities, which translates to more than $12,000 in unfunded liabilities per single-family home; Holyoke would be on the hook for $300 million, which translates to a liability of more than $18,000 per single-family home. And eight other cities in the commonwealth are in similar straits.

The Gingrich Counterattack in Florida

abagley — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:26:30 -0600

We reported on this a number of times in 2008, when Romney’s GOP primary opponents kept bringing it up. It’s true that the independent Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation put the total of increased fees and corporate taxes under Romney at $740 million to $750 million per year.

Cuts in Massachusetts Governor's Budget Proposal Draw Attention

abagley — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:52:06 -0600

Mike Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Tax Payers Foundation, recognizes that the current economic climate makes it challenging to address all of the State's needs in the current budget.

Governor's Budget Puts Emphasis On Education

abagley — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:49:14 -0600

But Beacon Hill lawmakers in the past have rejected similar tax proposals from the governor. And Michael Widmer of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation questioned whether they would accept them this time around. "Those tax proposals I think are reasonable but nonetheless this is an election year so there’s an open question on whether or not the legislature will approve them," he said.

Patrick budget relies on host of fixes

abagley — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:03:17 -0600

Michael Widmer, President of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, described the governor's budget as "fiscally responsible" but said it was built on "question marks" about health care savings and initiatives that lawmakers are unlikely to support.

Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation says unfunded retiree health care liability is growing for towns and cities

abagley — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:07:51 -0600

The foundation, a Boston-based independent, nonprofit organization that conducts research on state and local taxes, government spending, and the economy, says the liabilities are not some hypothetical obligation but represent actual amounts taxpayers owe in today’s dollars for retiree health-care benefits already earned by current retirees and eligible employees and payable during the next 30 ye

Patrick administration avoids local aid cut in budget proposal

abagley — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:04:11 -0600

“It’s going to be very tight,’’ said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation. “There are going to be a number of places where there are budget cuts. “It’s better news than the last several years for sure, but it’s also a fifth consecutive year of budget squeeze,’’ he said.

Mass. Gov. to seek hike in cigarette tax

abagley — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:02:37 -0600

Michael Widmer, president of the independent Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, noted that lawmakers had previously rejected some of the governor’s revenue proposals and questioned whether they would be more willing to accept them this around.