"STATE REVENUE collections missed the mark by nearly 5 percent in January, with the $3.834 billion that the Department of Revenue reeled in landing $192 million, or 4.8 percent, shy of the previous January’s collections and $185 million or 4.6 percent below the monthly benchmark.It is the first time since June 2020 that DOR has announced that tax collections have failed to live up to the administration’s monthly expectation. The $21.643 billion that DOR has collected through seven months of fiscal year 2023 is $229 million, or 1 percent less, than actual collections in the same period of fiscal 2022. Tax receipts are the primary source of funding for this year’s state budget, which grew by 10 percent.The sluggish January numbers may affect the appetite of the Healey administration and the Legislature for tax cuts this year."
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Saturday, February 4, 2023
“which we do expect to reverse in the second half of this fiscal year”
Sunday, December 11, 2022
CommonWealth Magazine: "Old laws, like Prop 2 1/2, need to adapt to times"
"I’VE BEEN STRUGGLING to find the right metaphor for our current economic situation. After the great recession of 2007-2009, my go-to was a staircase: the recession had knocked us down a flight of stairs and it took us a decade to climb back up.But that won’t do today. If COVID knocked us down the stairs, our response was to leap–like some superhero–up and out of the building. Only afterwards did we realize we don’t know how to land.Or how’s this analogy…to avoid a dangerous tangle on the highway, we successfully accelerated around it–only to discover that our brakes aren’t working well.You get the point. For the first time in decades, the problem with the US economy is that it’s running too hot, with plentiful job opportunities driving unsustainable wage growth and consumer demand keeping inflation above healthy levels.Fixing all this is mostly a job for the feds. But lawmakers here in Massachusetts have an important role to play: they need to adapt."
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CommonWealth Magazine: "Old laws, like Prop 2 1/2, need to adapt to times" |
Sunday, December 4, 2022
This Town Council "Quarterbacking" session condenses the 11/30/22 meeting to about 28 minutes (audio)
FM #891 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 891 in the series.
This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England, this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of Nov 30, 2022:
ok, what just happened?
What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
We cover the following key topics
8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION
a. Presentation: Elks Riders Donation to Veterans’ Services Department
6. HEARINGS - 7:00 pm
a. Franklin Tax Classification Hearing
b. Resolution 22-77: Tax Classification Residential Factor
c. Resolution 22-78: Tax Classification Open Space Exemption
d. Resolution 22-79: Tax Classification Small Business Exemption
e. Resolution 22-80: Tax Classification Residential Property Exemption
f. Resolution 22-81: Tax Classification Senior Means Tested Exemption
g. Resolution 22-82: Declaration of Town-owned Property Containing “South Franklin Congregational Meeting House” Located at 762 Washington Street as Surplus and Authorization for Disposition (Sale) to Old Colony Habitat for Humanity
h. Resolution 22-83: Downtown Parking Lot Kiosks Authorization
i. Resolution 22-84: 2023 Town Council Meeting Schedule
k. Resolution 22-85: Public Property Naming & Memorial Installation Policy
Our conversation runs about 28 minutes:
Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes.
Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Dec 1, 2022
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Meeting agenda and documents released for this session ->
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/nov_30_town_council_agenda.pdf
Watch the Franklin.TV video replay on YouTube -> https://youtu.be/FXWkMcix63s
My notes in one threaded PDF document
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uTxaQe3MXLug8od6xq5C_bqLzbDLoEjY/view?usp=share_link
My 4 key tax rate charts as discussed in this session
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/good-news-tax-rate-is-going-down.html
--------------
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
Good news, the tax rate is going down; however, that doesn't mean our taxes are decreasing
commercial/industrial valuation split vs. residential |
So bottom line, while we do need more commercial/industrial growth, whether the tax rate goes up or down (as it does this year), the one other constant in the mix is that the tax bills do increase. This last chart shows that relationship.
whether the tax rate goes up or down the tax bills do increase |
Sunday, November 27, 2022
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda for Nov 30, 2022 - 7 PM
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
i. Legislation for Action Items: 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f
a. Capital Budget Subcommitteeb. Economic Development Subcommitteec. Budget Subcommitteed. GATRA Advisory Board
Sunday, October 30, 2022
Boston Globe: "Billions in state tax refunds to start flowing to taxpayers on Tuesday, officials say"
"THE FIRST CHECKS and direct deposits from a nearly $3 billion pot of excess tax revenue will head back to taxpayers starting on Tuesday when the calendar flips to November, the Baker administration announced Friday.A spokesperson for the Executive Office of Administration and Finance said money will head out the door under the voter-approved tax cap law known as Chapter 62F, which taxpayers triggered for the first time since 1987 by delivering massive amounts of taxes.
About 3 million taxpayers will receive a refund in the form of a mailed check or a direct deposit worth about 14 percent of what they owed in state personal income tax in 2021, the spokesperson said. The administration plans to distribute the refunds on a rolling basis through December 15. The administration had previously estimated refunds of about 13 percent of income tax liabilities."
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Eligible taxpayers will receive their refunds on a rolling basis, Governor Charlie Baker’s office said. LUKE SHARRETT/BLOOMBERG |
Saturday, October 29, 2022
Finance Committee hears of the assessment process which accounts for about 60% of the Town of Franklin revenue (audio)
FM #867 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 867 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, Oct 26, 2022.
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: 6 members of the Finance Committee were in the Council Chambers along with some of the public, 1 member was remote along with some members the public via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
The primary discussion was with Kevin Doyle, Assessor and Chris Feeley, Chair of the Board of assessors as the assessment process was covered at a high level. How are residential homes assessed? How are commercial/industrial properties assessed?
Interesting fact, the assessment process produces about 60% of the Town of Franklin revenue.
The meeting recording runs about seventy minutes, so let’s listen to the Finance Committee meeting Oct 26, 2022.
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-867-franklin-ma-finance-cmte-mtg-10-26-22
--------------
Meeting agenda document -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/10-26-22_finance_committee_meeting.pdf
My notes -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qvpZtcz3JE529S9wN1tkJJ3FB9w92B8N/view?usp=sharing
Link to Finance Committee => https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee
YouTube recording => https://youtu.be/OaibaQ9dOBk
--------------
We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com
The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.
I hope you enjoy!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Thursday, October 6, 2022
"Half of all the refund money will go to the top 10 percent of households by income."
"THE STATE is preparing to pay out $1.4 billion in “illusory” funds under the tax cap law, giving wealthy taxpayers a huge windfall, according to a report from the left-leaning Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center.
Officials at the center say they are not accusing state officials of doing anything wrong or making a math error. Instead, they are saying a set of unusual circumstances are combining to inflate the amount of taxes collected in excess of the tax cap, and doing so in a way that shortchanges the state and allows wealthy taxpayers to gain an even bigger benefit than they normally would.
“The affluent win in every way,” said Phineas Baxandall, senior policy analyst and advocacy director at the Budget and Policy Center.
The broad outlines of the situation have been raised before, but the Budget and Policy Center report is the first time the dollar impact has been spelled out. The report calls on state leaders to address the situation, but they have shown little interest so far in intervening to change the tax cap law."
Reading between the lines, if the Governor wasn't so hasty in trying to the funds returned by check and used the tax rebate process, the 'illusion' might work itself out.
The State House News Service, shared via Franklin Observer, tries to focus on the issue as party based:
Q1 State Tax Take Surpasses Record FY `22 Pace, but No Tax Relief in Sight
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The golden dome of the State House. (Photo by Andy Metzger) |
Friday, August 5, 2022
CommonWealth Magazine: after all the he said/she said, tax credit might be less than Gov Baker claimed
"AS THEIR CAREFULLY crafted plans for tax relief and massive spending outlays began to slip away with last Thursday’s stunning news about a 1986 tax law, frustrated Democrats on Beacon Hill went into spin mode.First, late Friday afternoon, Rep. Christine Barber of Somerville took to the House floor to suggest that plans by the Baker administration to sweep a $225 million fund may have been part of the administration’s move to trigger the 36-year-old law that the Baker administration a day earlier said could force nearly $3 billion in tax relief later this year, or about 7 percent of the income taxes paid in 2021.“It’s becoming clear that to cover closing costs for 2022 and to possibly pay for the $2.8 billion that will go to the taxpayers under Chapter 62F, there may have been some other need for these funds,” Barber said. “I hope that those funds were not used at the expense of covering low and moderate income families’ health care, but that looks like what might be happening. But we know that rather than spend these funds that were in the Commonwealth Care Trust Fund, the governor swept those funds out and then replaced this new program that we created with a study.”
"STATE OFFICIALS said on Thursday that tax revenues grew by more than 20 percent in the most recently completed fiscal year, but that growth will nevertheless yield a tax cap credit that is probably more than $600 million less than what the Baker administration estimated last week.The tax cap is a 1986 law that sets “allowable” tax revenue the state can take in during a given year and requires collections in excess of that amount to be returned to taxpayers in the form of a credit."
Friday, July 29, 2022
Beacon Hill Round up: likely tax rebate coming in some amount/form; MA Senate union debate goes forward
"In a surprise, Baker says taxpayers could receive ‘north of $2.5 billion’ in tax relief under little-known law"
"With state coffers overflowing, Massachusetts taxpayers could receive nearly $3 billion in tax relief under an obscure 36-year-old law, Governor Charlie Baker’s administration said Thursday, surprising lawmakers just as separate tax relief talks seemed to be reaching a crescendo.The likelihood of a decades-old law forcing the state to give back billions to taxpayers quickly shook Beacon Hill on the same day data showed the economy had edged closer to, if not officially in, a recession.It also complicated legislators’ negotiations over a $1 billion package of tax breaks and rebates — a mammoth proposal lawmakers pursued to help ease the pinch of ballooning inflation but were still scrambling to complete before their legislative session ends Sunday night.How much the state could ultimately hand back to taxpayers is unclear. But Baker said Thursday that the state appears poised to trigger a 1986 voter-passed law that seeks to limit state tax revenue growth to the growth of total wages and salaries in the state."
Nearly four months after legislative staff in the Massachusetts Senate formally asked President Karen E. Spilka to recognize them as an employee union, Spilka rejected the effort.“The Senate does not at this time see a path forward for a traditional employer-union relationship in the Senate as we are currently structured,” she wrote in a staff email on Thursday evening.Staffers expressed dismay at her decision.
Thursday, July 28, 2022
Beacon Hill Roundup: Conf Cmte agreement on veterans services; possible reshaping of local public health; tax cap to be triggered
"LEGISLATIVE NEGOTIATORS have come to an agreement on how to overhaul the governance of the state’s two Soldiers’ Homes in Holyoke and Chelsea.A bill released Wednesday evening lays out a new administrative structure for the homes, which elevates the Secretary of Veterans Services to a cabinet-level position while also creating a new independent Office of a Veterans Advocate. The bill represents a major bureaucratic restructuring with multiple levels of oversight and administration aimed at improving the management of the homes. "
"THE LEGISLATURE is poised to dramatically reshape Massachusetts’ local public health landscape, after the COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted just how inadequate it is.“I’ve been doing this work for almost 25 years and it’s just astounding to me the opportunity that we’re being presented with here, and the fact that the Legislature really understands the importance of delivering services fairly and equitably throughout the Commonwealth,” said Cheryl Sbarra, executive director of the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards. “It’s something those of us involved in local public health have been dreaming for our whole careers.”
"WHILE LAWMAKERS scramble to put together a package of tax breaks in the final days of the legislative session, a little-known law from the mid-1980s is about to alter the Beacon Hill debate over tax relief.Record tax revenues in fiscal 2021 are expected to trigger the state’s tax cap for the first time in more than 30 years, setting the stage for Massachusetts taxpayers to claim sizable credits on their 2022 returns.The exact size of the credits is unclear because some of the information needed to calculate them is not yet available. But sources say the amount of money at stake could be significant. It’s also unclear whether the return of the money under the tax cap will affect ongoing discussions about a package of tax breaks and cash payments to residents totaling roughly $1 billion.The tax cap is one of those laws that has largely faded from memory. It was passed by voters in 1986, in the midst of the so-called Massachusetts Miracle. Put forward by Citizens for Limited Taxation and the Massachusetts High Technology Council, the ballot question sought to restrict how much tax revenue the state could take in, limiting the growth in revenues to no more than the growth in total wages and salaries."
Thursday, May 5, 2022
Senate President Spilka: "to explore providing tax relief to the people of the Commonwealth”
"MASSACHUSETTS TAX revenues continued to soar in April, astonishing experts who track the numbers and prompting Senate President Karen Spilka to announce that she intends to push for some sort of tax relief package before the end of June.
April tax collections totaled $6.9 billion, up more than $3 billion compared to the same month a year ago and more than $2 billion ahead of the state’s revenue forecast for the month. Even after adjustments for an excise tax that is temporarily accelerating tax payments, revenues in April were up 77 percent from a year ago and 43 percent ahead of the state’s consensus revenue forecast, according to numbers released by the Department of Revenue on Wednesday."
Senate President Spilka: "to explore providing tax relief to the people of the Commonwealth” |
Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Add this to the worry list: IRS "warns of ‘enormous challenges’ this tax-filing season"
"Treasury Department officials on Monday said that the Internal Revenue Service will face “enormous challenges” during this year’s tax filing season, warning of delays to refunds and other taxpayer services.In a phone call with reporters, Treasury officials predicted a “frustrating season” for taxpayers and tax preparers as a result of delays caused by the pandemic, years of budget cuts to the IRS and the federal stimulus measures that have added to the tax agency’s workload.Typically, IRS officials enter filing season with an unaddressed backlog of roughly 1 million returns. This year, however, the IRS will enter the filing season facing “several times” that, Treasury officials said, although they declined to give a more precise estimate. The IRS website says that as of Dec. 23, 2021, it still had 6 million unprocessed individual returns, and as of the start of this month it still had more than 2 million unprocessed amended tax returns, a separate category."
FYI - For 2020, I filed in February and didn't get a return status until July. I had a very minor miscalculation in my return that held it up. Only thing to do is file early, and file accurately.
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IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig appears before a House panel last year. (Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post) |
Thursday, April 15, 2021
"lawmakers are taking a “cautiously optimistic approach” to Massachusetts’s fiscal picture"
"HAPPY DAYS are here again. That may not be the case for most Massachusetts residents, still in the grip of the COVID pandemic, but it appears to be the case for state budget writers – at least for now.
The House Ways and Means Committee budget proposal released Wednesday would spend $47.649 billion in fiscal 2022 – or $1.8 billion more than what Gov. Charlie Baker proposed, and a 2.6 percent increase over this year’s budget.
The House budget includes no new revenue initiatives and no significant spending cuts – and doesn’t rely on the enormous influx of federal dollars that are expected to flow into Massachusetts from the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden signed in March. "
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House Ways and Means Committee budget |