MassBudget: 14 Options for Raising Progressive Revenue

To help invest in our community

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. January 15, 2019 14 Options for Raising Progressive Revenue Good schools, public parks, reliable transit, and smooth roads help increase well-being and make a community prosperous. Together, we pay for these fundamentals through state and local taxes. How to collect enough revenue to pay for these investments - and how to collect that revenue fairly - are questions that every community, including our Commonwealth, must answer. Massachusetts' state and local tax system remains "regressive," meaning low- and moderate-income taxpayers pay a larger share of their incomes in taxes than those with higher incomes. A "progressive" tax system is one in which higher-income taxpayers pay a larger percentage of their incomes in taxes. A new Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) paper, 14 Options for Raising Progressive Revenue, explores ways the Commonwealth could make its tax system more progressive. The options described in the paper include: Personal income tax options, like raising both the personal income tax rate and progressive exemptions, Wealth tax options, like raising the estate tax, and Business tax options, like enacting a surtax on companies where CEOs' pay rates are excessively high compared with median worker pay rates. Read a PDF version of the report. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by mrivera@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

Options for 150 Emmons St decision

The Emmons St discussion is likely one of the key items on the Town Council agenda for their first meeting of 2015. The letter from Town Administrator Jeff Nutting to the Town Council lays out the current options for the discussion on the Request for Proposal (RFP) to sell the property.

As the Council is aware, we discussed an RFP for the sale of 150 Emmons Street with a minimum bid of $475,000. We did receive one bid for $500,000. The proposal submitted does not identify any specific use for the property. 

The Council has several options including:

1. Sell the land for $500,000 and allow the developer to construct anything on the property allowed by zoning. 

2. Sell the land for $500,000, but restrict the use. (The discussion at the Economic Development Committee was whether to allow for VSEs (Vehicle Service Establishments) for any use or not allow VSEs for fast food/coffee uses? 

3. Sign a Land Disposition agreement and allow the developer 180 days to find a tenant (s) acceptable to the Council. 

4. Take no action at this time.

If the Town Council chooses to sell the property, we will need until July 1, 2015 to relocate the Recreation Department.

The screen grab of the letter can be viewed here: 

screen grab of letter with options for decision on 150 Emmons St

150 Emmons St, Franklin   MA

The letter is found on page 25 of the 79 page PDF file released for the Town Council meeting January 7, 2015:
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2015%20Complete%20With%20Documents/010715.pdf

Pictures from the FHS presentation

Option One - the new auditorium and science wing would be added to the right of the existing facility

Option Two - the auditorum would be added to the right (as in One) but the science wing would be added to the left

Option Three - the auditorum and entrance would be re-done up front, the science wing wold be added on the right and more would be done in the central sections of the building

This a rendering of what the new school would look like from the air above Oak Street for Option Three

This rendering depicts the new school option building on the left of the existing field house, coming into the tennis courts and baseball/softball fields (but not to the new track). The fields used in this new building option would be relocated to the space where the old building stands now (after it was torn down).