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.

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…

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…

In a new analysis, the Foundation credits the state's leaders for their efforts to address the Commonwealth's fiscal crisis through a realistic combination of spending cuts and tax increases in 2003. However, MTF warns that a remaining large structural deficit will require further painful choices…

As a result of recent tax revenue shortfalls, the House and Senate versions of the state budget for fiscal 2003 are at least $650 million out of balance. With more than $1 billion of additional tax revenues already included in the legislative budgets and almost $2 billion of the state's $3 billion…

As the state struggles with a more than $2 billion budget gap in fiscal 2003, its leaders have an opportunity -- and a responsibility -- to correct spending abuses and eliminate inefficiencies that have been tolerated in the recent good times, especially when programs are being cut and taxes raised…

While the state's leaders have agreed on a plan to fill the huge revenue shortfall in 2002, even larger deficits in 2003 and beyond remain unaddressed. Almost $1.3 billion will be drawn from reserves in 2002, and another $134 million of "savings" will come from unwisely reducing the contribution to…

After plummeting more than $1.8 billion in fiscal 2002, state tax revenues will remain flat in 2003 as gains from a projected mild recovery are offset by the impact of prior tax cuts, according to a forecast presented by MTF to members of the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees at their…

While acknowledging that the Commonwealth faces a $2 billion fiscal shortfall in fiscal 2003, in attempting to close that gap the administration's budget proposal relies on overly optimistic revenue growth projections, excessive use of reserves, an unwise reduction in pension funding and other…