State budget basics What entities comprise the Commonwealth of Massachusetts? What entities and activities does the legislature budget for annually? What are the major sources of revenue that support budgeted expenditures? What are the major objects of budgeted expenditures? How have the major categories of state spending grown over time? School Building Authority Process State …
Budget
budget and local aid updates, community preservation act, financial outlook, local aid policy, priorities/requests, resources, revenue, taxes
Budget Outlook Positive for 2014-5
The state’s finances are looking up as the economy picks up — that was the main message at the annual “Revenue Hearing” today. At the same time, all who spoke cautioned against over-confidence. Every December, lead budget writers for the Governor, the House and the Senate convene to hear presentations from leading experts on the …
S207, An Act to revive the Foundation Budget Review Commission
Senator Brownsberger submitted the following written testimony to the Joint Committee on Education. TO: Joint Committee on Education FROM: Senator William N. Brownsberger RE: House Bill 457 and Senate Bill 207, An Act to revive the Foundation Budget Review Commission DATE: October 17, 2013 I am writing in favor of An Act to revive …
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The Software Tax has been Repealed
As previously promised, both branches have now voted to repeal the software tax. It will shortly be laid upon the Governor’s desk and signed. The repeal is fully retroactive: If people have collected it from customers, they should return it. If they have remitted payments to the Department of Revenue, they can apply for the …
Software Tax will be Repealed
Legislative leaders announced today that they support the repeal of the software tax. The Governor made the same announcement yesterday. I am relieved by this announcement — it means a mistake will be fixed and we will avoid much future controversy. I had become convinced last month that the tax (a) was simply not computable …
Software Tax Update
The Department of Revenue has produced new guidelines about the application of the software services tax. These are draft guidelines which are still subject to change. The important idea in the new interpretation, which is an idea that I had been pushing, is that the tax should apply to modifications of pre-written software only when …