The idea of building the task force report around the “millionaires tax” started to percolate in June, when a report by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation suggested tapping some of the surplus tax funds to address MBTA shortfalls.

Doug Howgate, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and a member of the task force, said his organization originally opposed the “millionaires tax” as bad public policy but, with its passage, saw the potential to address pressing transportation needs. “The reality is [the surtax] is on the books and we want to make sure it is working the best way it can,” Howgate told me.