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- August 16 2010In a newly released report, Maximizing the Value of Our Human Services Dollars, the Foundation makes two major recommendations: to streamline the administrative structure of the state's human services agencies; and to close ten antiquated and expensive institutions and move clients into community treatment. Both recommendations would save money while improving services for individuals and families. The link below is to the Executive Summary. The full report will be available shortly.
- June 6 2010The Senate recommends spending $31.4 billion, roughly $250 million less than the Governor in fiscal 2011 but $100 million more than the House, and does not rely on a draw from the state stabilization fund or increased taxes. However, with roughly $2 billion of one-time funds in the budget, the 2012 structural deficit will require substantial cuts in spending, even with an economic recovery.
- March 24 2010MTF President Michael J. Widmer presented to the Boston Economic Club an update on state and local finances.
- March 1 2010
The Governor's reliance on more than $2 billion of one-time funds in his $31.7 billion fiscal 2011 budget will require major budget cuts in 2012. According to the Foundation's analysis, even if revenues grow by $1 billion in 2012, the state would still confront a $2.5 billion shortfall with virtually no state and federal reserves to help close the gap. In addition, should the voters this November approve a ballot initiative to reduce the state's sales tax from 6.25 to 3 percent, the state will face a $5 billion structural gap in fiscal 2012, as well as an immediate $1 billion revenue shortfall in fiscal 2011.
- December 10 2009Despite steps taken by the Governor and Legislature, the fiscal 2010 budget is $300 - $500 million out of balance. Because of the heavy reliance on one-time funds in 2010, the state faces a structural deficit of $3 billion in fiscal 2011, which will require spending reductions comparable to cuts in 2010 spending.
- October 9 2009President Michael J. Widmer presented MTF's revised fiscal 2010 revenue forecast to the Senate and House Ways and Means Committee.
- October 6 2009MTF President Michael Widmer presented an overview of state and local finances to the Boston Municipal Analyst Forum
- September 14 2009
In a presentation to business and government leaders, MTF President Michael Widmer described the global recession's enormous impact on state and local finances and the state's dependence on $5 billion of one-time state and federal funds to balance the fiscal 2009 and 2010 budgets.
- August 6 2009The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation recently received a prestigious national award for its research and public education on the fiscal and economic impact of the November 2008 ballot question to repeal the state income tax. The Foundation was awarded a Certificate of Merit in the Most Effective Education category from the Governmental Research Association (GRA), the 13th such award received by the Foundation since 1996. The centerpiece of the Foundation's work was its October 2008 report, The Enormous Consequences of Question 1, which was widely cited in the media and public debates in opposition to the initiative, which voters ultimately rejected by a 70-30 margin. The Foundation's previous awards from the GRA have covered a wide array of topics including health care, business costs, capital spending, state finances, MBTA restructuring, and state government reform.