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| Senator Moore supports tax cut once local aid is restored |
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July 15, 2005 - In a bipartisan effort, the Massachusetts Senate voted unanimously to keep the promise of returning the Massachusetts Income Tax rate to 5.0% as voted by the people in the 2000 election. The terms of the reduction call for the cut to take place once local aid funding is able to be restored to Fiscal Year 2002 levels, which were the highest in memory before the bottom fell out of the state budget when revenues plummeted during the national recession. Senator Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge) was among the co-sponsors of the amendment, along with Senators Bruce Tarr (R-Gloucester), Richard Tisei (R-Malden), Robert Creedon (D-Brockton) and Michael Morrissey (D-Quincy). During debate on the amendment, Senator Stephen Brewer (D-Barre) stated that he, and Senator Moore, has attended a session at Oxford High School on local aid with municipal leaders during the week noting that Oxford school committeeman Mark Peterson had called for the tax cut once local aid cuts were restored. “It would be irresponsible not to restore local aid before completing the income tax cut,” Senator Moore explained, “since local aid cuts only result in higher property taxes and drastic cuts in local education and municipal services.” The bill most likely will now go to the Senate-House conference committee for further review. More information on Senator Moore’s legislation can be obtained by checking his web site www.senatormoore.com. |
