The Legislature's $23.1 billion budget for fiscal 2004 goes a long way toward closing an estimated $2.5 billion structural deficit, while taking meaningful steps toward governmental reform. However, the budget's reliance on $400 million of one-time revenues will make the job of balancing the state'…

Budget conferees face a two-fold challenge as they hash out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the fiscal 2004 budget: minimizing the $300 to $500 million gap between proposed spending and on-going revenues in the two budgets; and preserving the impetus for reform of…

According to a new analysis, the proposed 2004 budget recently adopted by the House -- like the Governor's budget -- fails to fully close the structural hole in the state's finances. Following almost $2 billion of spending reductions over the last two years, the deep cuts recommended in both…

The Foundation's updated analysis of spending changes over the past two fiscal years concludes that the state has reduced expenditures by $1.9 billion in a host of programs -- not including the additional spending cuts that will be needed to address the large budget gap in fiscal 2004.

In its annual analysis of state spending, the Taxpayers Foundation calls on state leaders to develop a fiscal blueprint for 2004 and 2005 to address the Commonwealth's massive and growing structural deficit. The report recommends that legislative leaders and the Romney administration work together…

MTF calls on state policy makers to take advantage of the need for extraordinary solutions to the fiscal crisis and seize the best opportunity in years to undertake important reforms of state government. The bulletin highlights a number of issues that should be at the top of the agenda: revamping…

Because of the continuing weakness of the state and national economy -- and the uncertainty about future economic growth -- state tax revenues will fall short in fiscal 2003 and grow at an anemic pace in 2004, according to a forecast presented by MTF to members of the House and Senate Ways and…

MTF and three other business organizations have joined together to defeat Question 1, the Libertarian Party's reckless proposal to abolish the state income tax. If adopted, this extreme measure would throw the finances of state and local governments into chaos and inevitably lead to major increases…