In the eight weeks since Governor Charlie Baker released his spending plan for fiscal year 2020, the proposal has been the subject of significant analysis and debate. This policy brief serves as an update and addendum to MTF’s original analysis of February 4, 2019.

Tax revenue collections have been a roller coaster ride during fiscal 2019. Through the first five months of the year, tax collections were strong, ending November $323 million over estimates. In December and January, however, collections fell far short, ending January with a year-to-date variance…

As a proponent of the 1993 education reforms and a founding member of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, the Foundation has long recognized that the long-term well-being of the Commonwealth relies on a high performing education system. The employers of the modern economy need well-…

“It is good news that tax revenue collections exceeded the monthly estimates,” said McAnneny. “But caution remains the key word for the rest of the fiscal year because revenues remain below projections for the year.”

Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation President Eileen McAnneny today reacted to the preliminary tax revenue totals announced yesterday by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, which fell short of the year-to-date tax benchmarks by $403 million.

Governor Baker released a spending plan that totals $47.5 billion which includes both pre-budget transfers and line-item appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2020. The proposal is noteworthy for the inclusion of several policy initiatives along with the introduction of new resources to pay for the…

Tax revenues will increase by approximately $680 million, or 2.4 percent, to $29.47 billion in fiscal 2020 according to a new forecast released today by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation at the state’s annual consensus revenue hearing.

Today Governor Baker signed a $41.8 billion budget. The Governor exercised his veto powers by eliminating $48.9 million in spending while proposing amendments to 19 of the 110 policy sections included in the conference budget.

Today, the House and Senate released the fiscal (FY) 2019 budget conference report, which will now go to Governor Baker for his review. The $41.88 billion budget reconciles the House and Senate spending plans eighteen days after the start of the new fiscal year. The conference budget is most…

Fiscal year (FY) 2019 begins on July 1st and budget conferees in both the House and Senate are working to complete their compromise budget in time for the start of the year. This brief outlines several of the issues that are being negotiated and examines challenges that complicate resolution.