The confluence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of technology enabling effective remote work has caused a dramatic drop in demand for office space and a shift in what employers need from their physical spaces. This places the city in a...

Today, the Healey-Driscoll administration released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget proposal. The $62 billion spending plan increases spending over the FY 2025 GAA by $4.3 billion (7.4 percent) and over the administration’s estimated spending level...

The Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, a fiscal-minded think-tank, will also have a seat on the council.“For our communities and our economy to prosper, we have to maintain and enhance the state’s standing as the nation’s K-12 education leader and...

The idea of building the task force report around the “millionaires tax” started to percolate in June, when a report by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation suggested tapping some of the surplus tax funds to address MBTA shortfalls.Doug Howgate,...

On December 30th, Conference reports were released on two major pieces of health care legislation, engrossed earlier in the session:Senate bill 3012, An Act Relative to Pharmaceutical Access, Costs and TransparencyHouse bill 5159, An Act Enhancing...

In May of 2024, Steward Health Care announced that it had filed for bankruptcy protection; beginning a process through which the for-profit health system looked to restructure its debt and sell or close assets, including seven Massachusetts hospitals...

Doug Howgate, the president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and a task force member, was one of the architects of the proposal to focus on tapping the millionaires tax rather than new taxes or fees, a somewhat ironic move...

Wrestling those amped-up spending appetites and underwhelming revenue trends back into alignment will remain a theme as lawmakers and the Healey administration embark on a 2025-26 session that also presents an array of opportunities and challenges...

On January 9th, budget leaders from the House, Senate, and Healey administration announced a $43.614 billion consensus tax revenue figure for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, including $41.214 billion in non-surtax revenue and $2.4 billion related to the...

As the work of the 194th General Court gets underway, MTF is publishing its 2025 – 2026 Legislative Session Preview. The preview includes 101 primers on the Operating Budget and Capital Investment Plan development processes, as well as seven topic...