The Court Ruled. Massachusetts’ Affordability Challenges Remain.

This week, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) blocked a popular income tax cut from appearing on the ballot this fall.

Our research at the Mass Opportunity Alliance inspired the initiative, which would ease the Commonwealth’s competitiveness crisis, save taxpayers money, and increase long-term state revenue.

The SJC decision cites technical concerns with the Attorney General’s summary of the ballot — despite polling that shows voters still strongly support the proposal, even after learning more about the secondary impacts of a rate reduction.

The decision was not based on the merits of the tax cut. Labor-backed groups have spent the last several months desperately trying to kill this tax cut that their own members support.

The concerns that motivated the proposal remain as relevant today as they were before the decision was issued. Massachusetts is still one of the most expensive states in the nation. Too many residents continue to leave in search of greater opportunity and a lower cost of living.  

MOA’s Founding Mission Is More Critical Now Than Ever 

In less than two years, the Mass Opportunity Alliance has helped bring affordability, outmigration, and competitiveness to the forefront of public discussion in Massachusetts. What were once niche concerns are now central topics of debate among policymakers, business leaders, the media, and residents across the Commonwealth.

That progress matters.

The SJC’s decision affects one proposal. It does not eliminate the need for action, nor does it diminish the urgency of the challenges facing Massachusetts families, employers, and communities.

MOA was created to identify challenges, elevate facts, engage citizens, and advance practical solutions that make Massachusetts a more affordable, competitive, and opportunity-rich place to live, work, and build a future.

That mission continues today, and it will continue long after this week’s ruling.

Mass Voters Still Need Tax Relief

Massachusetts has some of the steepest taxes in the nation, ranking in the bottom 10 of all states according to the Tax Foundation. Census Bureau data shows Commonwealth families shoulder the ninth highest tax burden in the country.

This isn’t news to residents. An MOA poll found 82% of respondents believe their taxes here are too high, and another survey of residents who moved out of state found the Commonwealth’s steep taxes were the most-cited reason for leaving. In fact, more residents are moving out than others moving in, costing the state more than $4 billion in taxable income just last year.

A new Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll released this week found two-thirds of Massachusetts voters support the income tax cut. That same poll found roughly half of voters have considered leaving the state in the past year, citing taxes as one of the top two reasons. In fact, taxes are more concerning to voters than the cost of rent or mortgage payments.

What Comes Next

A second MOA-inspired ballot measure is still headed for the ballot in November. While the tax cut would have let taxpayers keep more of their money instead of paying it in taxes, the second measure will trigger more tax refunds when the state collects too much. It will cap the state’s revenue collections more effectively, and intends to rein in some of the state’s excessive spending growth.

That’s a major opportunity to move Massachusetts in the right direction.

But the problem remains, the people of Massachusetts are struggling under high costs and taxes, and have given state lawmakers a clear mandate to do something about it. Nationwide, red and blue states are reducing taxes, and the vast majority of Bay Staters want to join them. 

Advancing policies that lower taxes and make Massachusetts more affordable for everyone remains at the heart of MOA’s mission. We will continue to find ways to increase our Commonwealth’s competitiveness for years to come.