Budget

budget and local aid updates, community preservation act, financial outlook, local aid policy, priorities/requests, resources, revenue, taxes

Update on the Film Tax Credit Issue

Over the past two months, I have heard from roughly 200 constituents in my district who are concerned about the Governor’s proposal to eliminate the film tax credit. Some of the most thoughtful constituents indicated that they didn’t like the credit going to out of state movie stars and would like to see it used in a less wasteful way to benefit in-state workers. To further that conversation, in this year’s Senate budget we adopted a very modest compromise amendment, calling for a report.

S.1451, An Act relative to payments in lieu of taxation of organizations exempt from the property tax

Senator Brownsberger has recently submitted the following testimony on S.1451, An Act relative to payments in lieu of taxation of organizations exempt from the property tax: TO:                  Joint Committee on Revenue FROM:             Senator William N. Brownsberger RE:                   S.1451 DATE:              May 12th, 2015 ­I am writing in support of S.1451, An Act relative to …

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Film Tax Credit

In conjunction with his budget, Governor Baker proposed the elimination of the Film Tax Credit. On this issue, I agree with the Governor. While I am basically eager to encourage every job-creating industry in Massachusetts, the film tax credit is just too generous to one particular industry — no other industry receives a subsidy as deep as that offered by the film tax credit.

FY16 Budget Priorities Letter to Senate Ways and Means

Today, Senator Brownsberger submitted this letter to the Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee outlining his budget priorities for Fiscal Year 2016. He lists many items of importance, but his top priorities are increased Chapter 70 (education) funding; full funding for the Special Education Circuit Breaker Fund; full funding for the Department of Conservation and Recreation; substantial fund increases for the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation; full funding of Charter School Reimbursements to local school districts; and full funding of Kindergarten Development Grants.