Citizens groups in a coalition called Raise Revenue and Stop the Cuts have endorsed a bill, "An Act to Invest in Our Communities" sponsored by Rep. James O'Day and Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz [House Docket 02261 & Senate Docket 1012]
The act proposes an increase in the income tax rate from 5.3% to 5.95%, including an increase in personal exemptions from $4,400 (single)/$8,800 (married) to $7,900 (single)/$15,800 (married). It also proposes an increase of the dividends and interests rate from 5.3% to 8.95%, with an exemption for low and middle income seniors and disabled persons.
The proposal would yield up to 1.2 billion dollars in new revenue, necessary to taking a more balanced approach to the current budget gap and continuing to support our public structures.
I fully support this initiative. My tax rate will increase by .65%. Will I pay an additional tax of less than 1% of my income? Do I really want to pay more? Absolutely, YES, I do. Over the last few weeks, I have heard that there are over 900 homeless families in our Commonwealth. A teacher told me she knew a boy who kept his clothes in a middle school locker because his family lived in their car. Our public school systems will not receive promised state aid. Teachers, firefighters and police across the Commonwealth are facing layoffs. Needed health insurance for my fellow citizens is being cut. It may take decades to get a rail line from Boston to Fall River and New Bedford. Our community colleges and state universities have raised tuitions and cut teaching staff.
So Governor Patrick, state Representatives and state Senators, please, raise my taxes and give housing to those families.
I am willing to pay to fully fund our commitment to public education and public safety. Take a few more dollars a week to keep classroom sizes down and to maintain adequate first response staffing.
Don't let anyone in our Commonwealth go without treatment for lack of health insurance, I can afford .65% more for them.
If adding this small amount will get rail in our area ...
... to increase economic development and expand employment opportunities, I'll pay it.
My children and I have attended community colleges and public universities. We owe our middle class incomes to the affordable educations we got through these universities. If it takes more revenue to continue investing in the people of the Commonwealth through publicly supported higher education, I owe that debt and I would happy to pay it forward.
Let's not be penny wise and pound foolish. Raise revenue through a modest increase in the income and investment taxes and stop the cuts. As this bill's name says, it's an investment in our communities!
Posts
25 comments:
Time for you to drink your kool aid. Nice boy, now just close your eyes. When you wake up the world will be perfect.
They will just play the "priorities" card and use the money for something else so they can continue to fund the foolish spending and salaries. Seniors that need the dividends to live might end up needing that locker for their clothes. I would never support more taxes while our elected officials continue to give themselves pay raises... let alone take a cut... and insist on better benefits than the average taxpayer.
Bill,
Are you kidding? The citizens of the USA (minus Massachusetts)have not fallen for this tactic. Why don't we get rid of the governor's council and other useless offices that only provide jobs for cronies.
Get rid of tenure and get some real educators in . You have already drunk the kool-aid and are on a different planet.
I think you need a like button : )
Ironic that you support keeping class size down when you were very vocal in not supporting override monies for the schools several years ago. The cuts have gotten deeper each year and the next year or more obviously look bleak. I applaud the effort to raise revenue/taxes but will not hold my breath. We had a chance to stabilize the schools and failed.
wow! Where was this Bill trimble during the Dartmouth fiscal crisis when we we were cutting services and school aid. Do I hear an Override? Yes!!!!!! Please raise my taxes.
Where have you been Bill? I didn't see you at the committee meeting. This is the second time. Do you have any understanding of what it is like to listen to Mike Watson talk about the same issues over, and over, and over.
I really don't object to raising my tax by 0.65% to save the system. But have you noticed what is happening at the gas pumps?? The extra tax dollars to help our needy and support schools, police, fire, and other public service is a smart thing to do. The increase price of oil will shut this country down.
I like to direct your liberal attention to what is going on with the increase of oil. Our country can have the best public service providers but if we don't do something about the third world OIL countries that have us by the stones we will pay more than 0.65% tax increase. It's time to sit down with China and talk about joining forces to take over the middle east countries. China has the army and we have the technology. The middle east countries are too unstable and any spark will cause a financial melt down that we will never recover from. I'm sure the Chinese will be interested in joining us in the take over of all middle east oil producing nations, starting with Iran.
Do it now, or do it later, but we will do it.
Raising the property tax levy via an override disproportionately affects the elderly, disabled and others on fixed income as well as the poor. I would rather see a general hike in income taxes along with the provisions of this bill that help to reduce the effect of the hike on the poor and those on fixed incomes.
PREVENTION MAY HAVE SAVED THE LIVES OF MANY U. M. DARTMOUTH STUDENTS
AN D POLICE.
Bill Trimble did not post this in his blog. But today's Standard Times headlines indicate a combine effort between the U M Dartmouth police and our Dartmouth police Chief may have prevented another shooting catastrophe at a college. How do we calculate preventative casualties, or deaths. We can not estimate what is prevented but from the standard times article I want to offer my appreciation to the campus police and the Dartmouth police chief for taking all necessary action and save the lives of many college students and police officers.
The Cassidy kid from Texas came to Dartmouth with an AK-47 rifle and enough ammo to kill hundreds. The Texas kid was also wanted on several Texas warrants. According to standard times information this Texas kid has questionable emotional problems, “ sound familiar” and he is attending U M Dartmouth Law school. Thank you Chief Lee and the campus police you did good. My daughter attends U.M. Dartmouth Law school and she is alive today. I don't know if she would be alive today if it wasn't for your quick action but thank you for doing what ever was needed. We will never know how many students are alive today that may have been killed. You and your police officers prevented something before it happened and that is prove in itself. God bless you.
"via an override disproportionately affects the elderly, disabled and others on fixed income as well as the poor."
Where does all this help for "the elderly, disabled and others on fixed income as well as the poor" come from all of a sudden?
Not just with you, Bill, but overrides have been mentioned off and on, in passing maybe, but mentioned nonetheless, on the current Select Board as a possibility for increasing revenue.
How come, when it's politically correct, all of you start the override chant (politically correct being "for the kids" and, when that doesn't work, it then becomes "for the police.")
Not that either of those don't count; no question, both do and both are equally important. But I'd just like to know how far I can't travel once I fill up at $3.37 a gallon at Cumbies?
I'm sure Angel Tavares isn't winning any brownie points or popularity contests for his drastic measures in handling Providence's deficit, but at least he's got the courage to do so. It's high time there were drastic measures taken all around the country, including Dartmouth.
March 2, 6:30 I think Bill does know. He sits on the Select Board with him.
Time to grab something to eat when he decides it is his turn to speak and add to the discussion?!
This is what happens when you have an elected select board member who is a fiscal liberal (a term used for a government money spender.) Now I understand while Greg Lynam quit the fincom. Selectman WATSON has a mouth that will not stop. Just like the energizer bunny, this selectman has a comment on everything from soup to nuts. More importantly selectman Watson is verbally unstoppable. He wants the town to spend 1.75 million dollars on town road repairs. The elected and appointed town members want to set aside 10% of the town budget into the stabilization fund. Watson argues that the town should aside 7.5% and use the 2.5% to pave town roads. This wet behind the ears selectman is heading our town back into the past. Not one subject is brought before the select board that Watson won't talk about. While his mouth is flapping, his head is going from left to right, and his legs are moving to his mantra.
If the other select board members ever want to get through a Monday night meeting, don't vote Watson as the next chairman.
Lots of the "oh no! don't raise taxes! they'll just waste it!" objections seem to complain about things that are teeny, tiny percentages of the budget. Healthcare, education, transportation, and local aid are big and expensive. Legislative salaries, not so much.
Yup, your right about Watson. He can talk a hungry dog off a meat wagon. How can this guy's wife stand to live under the same roof. Lara Stone has accomplished much more than Watson and with less talk and more action. Selectman Stone is one smart lady. I like what she has done for our schools and the kids. She will speak when needed, but nothing like Watson. I'm picking up a little friction between some of the other members and Watson.
I'm some what surprised with selectman McDonald. I can't put my finger on it but maybe McDonald thinks he is on the school committee where the Super speaks and everyone agrees. It's time for selectman McDonald to make a move or tell Watson to shut up.
Selectman McDonald must be told to stop turning papers and say something, anything, but say something. Selectman Watson has sneezed, coughed, done everything to McDonald. .
Watching Michaud. You can read his thoughts long before he speaks. Joe is the real thing. No substitute. A pair of onions and doesn't mind telling you. Our town is lucky to have Joe Michaud. Got rid of Souza, Tougas decides to retire, and now we have a smooth zoning board. Thanks to Joe. You don't take a back seat to anyone. Up front and in your face. Takes a man/women too. Keep the attitude, dam the torpedo's, straight ahead.
Now we have selectman Bill Trimble. Wants to increase his tax percentage to help the poor, the sick, and lame. A good man who has a heart. I like Bill for all the right reasons. You may not agree but Bill Trimble was the elected official who gave the selectmen the third vote needed to get Dartmouth back on track. Three cheers for Trimble. He speaks quietly and must carry a big stick. Bill is a liberal democrat but a fiscal conservative. This guy is so honest and he doesn't know it. No games with this guy. Straight talker, willing to serve, excellent leadership. Never shook his hand but I like the guy.
Thank you Mr. Trimble. If all tax payers in the Commonwealth had a modest tax increase, we wouldn't have to have an override. I will vote to raise my taxes by 0.65 so that the services are not cut. By sharing the burden with many, many will benefit. This will not target poor or elderly who are at risk. I like this idea!
As it relates to Mike Watson talking too much...I must agree with the post. This guy has a gift to gab. At times a feel like throwing something at the screen but my wife keeps reminding me that the HD screen has some type of materials that need a special touch. I'm surprised McDonald has not strangled him. I wonder, does Watson have the little guy complex, you know the type, a Neapolitan complex...that is why he talks too much. If Watson becomes the select board chairman, The selectmen meeting won't ever come to an end. Keep the mute button ready.
Mr. Trimble....when is enough enough
Why don't you work as hard to fix the real problems...
eliminate all the retirement plan and replace them with a 401k (403b)style plan with a match like most employees have...reduce the insane 15 paid sick days in addition to 5 personal days. Sick days are sick insurance...purchase short term and long term care for all employees, dump this accumulating of sick days to be paid off later. After we realize all these savings by running all government responsibly, then come to me and ask for tax increases.
Many of the benefits that public employees enjoy are granted by Massachusetts General Law or town bylaws. These statutes would need to be changed before a change could be negotiated.
Most town employees get 15 sick days and 3 personal days. 2 of the personal days come out of the sick time for a total of 16 days per year.
When/if the town buys those days back they do so at less than 50 dollars per day and the first 50 are free.
Short and long term disability with no waiting period are 40 dollars a month each. Your proposal makes no sense.
Mr Trimble is right on the money when it comes to pensions. The town cannot make any changes to the current retirement system. Court have ruled against changing the retirement benefit or the amount an employee must contribute once he/she is in the system. Any changes will ONLY be for new employees and only if approved by the legislature.
This is my 5 cents worth. Many years ago when the national population was below 2 million and the town of Dartmouth population was less than 7 thousand, teachers, policemen, and other town workers kept the town operating. The town were made up of farmers, businesses owners, and the mom/pop stores.
All district fire departments had call fireman. Don't know how, but the fire districts are disconnected from each other and the town. Not many people worked for the town. Except for the police department, all town positions were elected. Some thing must have happened during the mid 1940's because 20 years later the towns adult population exploded. More people were building houses. More homes brought children, schools needed to be expanded or built. During the late sixties the North Dartmouth golf course was turn into the Dartmouth Mall. Traffic was coming into Dartmouth from New Bedford and Fall River. Crime increased, traffic, people, restaurants and Dartmouth was facing a new way of life. The fed's developed I-195 from Providence to Cape Cod. The private sector were hiring people, people were spending money and the town meeting members wanted teachers, police officers, and many other town employee's to keep up with the demand on services. Dartmouth was collecting new monies and not just from the home owners, they had the huge box stores. $$$$$$$$$ every where. Unemployment was the lowest it has ever been, thanks to the Vietnam war.
The town officials were concerned. They could not compete with the private sector for employee's and it was time to hire professional, not elected people to run the town. The town elected officials began providing health insurance as a means to recruit employee's. Than came the retirement programs. A state supreme court ruled that it was unconstitutional to prevent town/city workers to unionize and the race was on. Forty five years later and the state, cities and towns can no longer afford to provide health insurance and now the retirement program is underfunded.
Dartmouth needed the employee's, the state made too many mandatory programs and stopped the funding. Now they want the towns to pick up more of their cost, but the towns/cities can no longer provide the monies. Prop 21/2 and other factors have kept the tax paying public from increase taxation. States are fighting to remove certain union rights. Where will it all end up......don't know.
To March 5, 2011 4:25 PM, who said - "It's time for selectman McDonald to make a move or tell Watson to shut up. Selectman McDonald must be told to stop turning papers and say something, anything, but say something. Selectman Watson has sneezed, coughed, done everything to McDonald."
On one hand you say Watson talks too much and that he has to comment on everything and on the other you say McDonald doesn't talk enough.
Well, I agree with you. Watson does talk too much, but I also disagree with you. McDonald does comment when he feels the need to. When he doesn't, he doesn't. If he did, you would be saying the same thing about him as you say about Watson.
McDonald has been around long enough as to how to conduct himself in a meeting and strangling Watson is not part of his m.o.
I do know this, as I speak with regularly, McDonald does enjoy being on the Board and genuinely likes the other members. He might not agree with them all the time, but he respects their opinions and positions on items.
Bill,
I read your piece in the ST today and then again on this blog. I could not disagree more with your premise. While everything you say about funding cuts may be true, the issue I have is HOW the state spends our money. I believe not enough is being done to root out the corruption, gross overspending and inefficiency in state government.
Until I see that these issues are being adequately addressed, then I cannot support ANY more of my hard earned income going to the state, however worthy the cause.
Why would I throw good money after bad?
to jvasta,
Can you chew gum and walk at the same time? Well, I can.
Don't you think it is possible to save our communities with a modest tax increase and continue to look at ways that we can provide services in an efficient way? I do.
The answer is NOT to cut everything; while hurting seniors, children and the poor, so you can have the TIME to fix what you think needs fixing!
Mr. Trimble, you have a heart and a conscience. Commendable traits without a doubt. However, entrusting Beacon Hill to pass along to those in need the additional taxes you support will only disappoint those who support this theory. You should always remember that Beacon Hill is in the "back pocket" of many special interest groups that can never feed at the trough enough to satisfy themselves. I would go so far as to say we could cut the state payroll in half, terminate all the current employees, end collective bargaining rights, and wind up much better off. Better quality and more motivated employees that would serve the public far better than the existing staff. People who would consider themselves fortunate to have good jobs, not people owed a living whether they show up for work or not.
Dear Bill,
I commend you for thinking this way but you must realize that the majority of people who want to raise taxes only want that because they know they will receive a disproportionate amount of the proceeds. This is clearly proven by the fact that people can pay as much taxes as they want. No government, town, state or federal has ever refused a check from a private citizen wishing to pay more in taxes. How much extra has been voluntarily collected? If anyone wants more of the government that we have, they should just write a check. The last thing I need is more government people telling me what is good for me.
Post a Comment