While on a trip to NH to look for a “new address” I stopped at BJ’s Wholesale in Nashua. I actually had a hard time finding a NH license plate! 8 out of 10 were MA Plates doing there shopping in tax free NH!
Nashua was PACKED! all those people with jobs catering to MA residents.. and then I thought.. all those people within 15 miles of the NH border that are now losing there jobs to NH, All because the MA Legislature chose losing Private sector jobs over public “Patronage” jobs, It’s absolutely SICKENING! I don’t know how the people that raised the sales tax sleep at night!
Show us some actual, credibly gathered stats showing a change of purchasing habits correlated to the tax rate increase. Then you have something to stand on. Otherwise, you’re just engaging in sensationalist anecdotes.
Yuval,
You must have your head in the sand. I don’t need to do a study, The next time you happen to pass through Salem or Nashua look around, then pass through methuen and look at the lack of buisnesses. You would have to be an idiot not to see the impact.
Jim,
Even if it’s obvious to you that something is happening, you need numbers before you make a policy decision. Some questions that come to mind off the top of my head:
* How many Mass residents are there actually buying in NH? That is, what’s the real impact, specifically?
* How many Mass residents were buying in NH before? That is, how much of that phenomenon can be attributed to the tax increase?
* What are these people buying? Are they driving up for booze or high-end TVs? If we want to change the policy, where should we target the changes?
* What’s been the total impact of the tax hike, not just in terms of movement to NH? Again, this comes down to assessing the impact in a non-visceral way.
* How much is Massachusetts benefiting in terms of increased tax revenues?
Once we have these numbers and more, we can have an intelligent discussion of the pros and cons. Without these numbers, all we have is exclamation points.
I was in a BJ’s parking lot so they were obviously Buying. That was only one of 60 or so parking lots, Lowes, Home Depot, all of them are filled with people from MA doing there tax free buying.. and YES the majority were doing there buying prior to the increase to 6.25 because it was saving them 5%, now it’s driving more to the border. I myself REFUSE to purchase ANYTHING in Massachusetts as my personal protest.
I know how Mass legislators who raised the sales tax sleep at night:
Just fine.
In Massachusetts, our public schools are much better than NH schools, because we fund them.
Now maybe you like to spend the $9 in gasoline and 40 minutes in time for a trip to Nashua from Belmont to buy something that doesn’t have sales tax on it. But I pay a few cents extra on the things I buy here knowing that it will keep our advantage in public schools.
In the past, I’ve gone to NH to make large purchases, but as was already pointed out, the savings don’t equal the costs, to say nothing for the inconvenience when there is a problem with a purchase. Say I go to Nashua to buy a $500 TV. That’s about 85 miles and about 2.5 hours of extra travel – which might mean a meal out, wear and tear, etc. to save $19 ($31 – $12 for gas) @ 2.5 hours of extra travel time I am making $7 (or less) per hour. Even less if you need to make a return (even if you return locally.)
At a time when we have so very little time for our friends and family, that is not a good deal.
I’ve lived elsewhere in the country, and I have been shocked to see what it’s like away from “taxachusetts”. How about a 10% sales tax (CA) – even on clothing? How about paying $16,000 yearly RE tax on a $400K house? (NJ) Just because some people say things are bad does not make it so.
And what if someone in your family gets sick? Where are you going to go?
Thanks, Lisa! It was a tough vote back in June 2009 and I’m glad people supported it in the end!