Early Ed. in the Governor's budget + Globe Op-Ed

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Early Ed. & Care in the Governor's Budget Quality Early Education & Care can help prepare children for success in school and in life, and it provides parents the flexibility they need to seek and keep jobs. MassBudget's new brief, Early Education & Care in the Governor's FY 2014 Budget, analyzes the Governor's proposals for early education and child care. These include: A 22% increase in funding for access to child care, as part of an effort to clear the current wait list An expansion of education funding for pre-K students New programs to train teachers and improve quality Early Education & Care in the Governor's FY 2014 Budget is the first in a series of briefs that will explore, in greater detail, important issues in the Governor's proposal. Read EARLY EDUCATION & CARE IN THE GOVERNOR'S FY 2014 BUDGET MassBudget Op-Ed in the Globe In an Op-Ed in Today's Boston Globe, MassBudget President Noah Berger describes how the tax cuts of 1998-2002 have limited our ability to invest in our children, our communities, and the future of our economy. "Tax policy debates are about how we pay for the things we do together for our communities, our families, and our economy. Working together through government allows us to accomplish things that are vital to us as a Commonwealth and that we can't do alone. This includes the roads, subways, and buses that help us get around and allow our economy to function; the schools that educate our children and strengthen our future workforce; the police and fire protection that keep our neighborhoods safe; the environmental safeguards that maintain our clean air and water; and the safety net that protects us when we fall on hard times. About 15 years ago, at the height of the dot-com bubble, our state made tax policy choices that have shaped state policy ever since. At the time, our economy was so strong that it seemed we could cut taxes dramatically with no consequences. The state enacted a series of cuts to the income tax that are now costing us close to $3 billion a year. We cut the tax rate on most income from 5.95 percent to 5.3 percent, costing over $1.5 billion. We cut the tax rate on dividends and interest from 12 percent to 5.3 percent, costing about $850 million. We increased the personal deduction to $4,400, costing $550 million." Read NOAH BERGER'S OP-ED IN TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE Mass. Business Taxes MassBudget has updated our factsheet on statewide business taxes, How do Massachusetts Business Taxes Compare to Other States. When business are deciding where to locate or expand, they look at a range of factors: infrastructure, quality of the local workforce, available markets, and sometimes tax levels. Looking just at taxes, one prominent study--produced regularly by the Council on State Taxation (COST)--finds that overall state and local business taxes in Massachusetts are well below average. Read HOW DO MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TAXES COMPARE TO OTHER STATES 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

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Tax Tip of the Week

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Tax Tip of the Week

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Ann Dufresne-DOR Communications Director on 2/12/13

Here's a deduction you don't want to miss when filing your MA tax return--the rental deduction. You may be entitled to a tax deduction equal to one half of the rent you paid during calendar year 2012 up to $3,000 for your principal residence in MA. Rent includes the amount you paid for heat, hot water, gas, electricity, furniture or parking, if the landlord makes no separate charge for these items. In tax year 2011an estimated 818,726 taxpayers claimed the rental deduction reducing paying filers' taxes by $117.8 million.Go to the TheFilingZone for anything and everything you ever wanted to know about filing your state returns.

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Franklin Library: Fun Club - Valentine Bingo

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Fun Club - Valentine Bingo

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 2/12/13

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In the News: ID bylaw, Recreation Dept

AG says voter I.D. bylaw can't apply to Bellingham town elections

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office ruled on Tuesday that part of the voter I.D. bylaw passed at the October special Town Meeting is unconstitutional.

Franklin Recreation briefs

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

News from the Franklin Recreation Department.

Where are all the kids?

Sunday afternoon. Dolores and I walked to downtown and back. We saw a couple of snowmen. We saw a few kids digging some tunnels in the snow. We did see evidence of some snow forts and a snow ball fight that had happened.



And when we walked by Fletcher Field, the snow was unbroken. Glistening in the snow light.

6,000 kids in the school system. Gorgeous Sunday afternoon. Plenty of snow...

Where are all the kids?


More photos from the walk around Franklin Saturday and Sunday can be found here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157632725898629/with/8463737646/

TED: Kids need structure (video)

"Always be looking for that which you do well and that which you love doing, and when you find those two things together — man, you got it.” (Colin Powell)

"So, I tell young people everywhere, it ain't where you start in life, it's what you do with life that determines where you end up in life, and you are blessed to be living in a country that, no matter where you start, you have opportunities so long as you believe in yourself, you believe in the society and the country, and you believe that you can self-improve and educate yourself as you go along. And that's the key to success." Colin Powell

Franklin Library: Kindle eReader Instruction

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Kindle eReader Instruction

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 2/11/13

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