Providing Tax Relief for Massachusetts Residents ~ IN YOUR CORNER with SENATOR DIZOGLIO

Hello Valley Patriot Readers,

Recently, I took to the Senate floor in calling on the Legislature to return to session and resume debate over stalled economic development and tax relief legislation.

Specifically, I have urged the Senate and House to suspend Rule 12A, the legislative rule that calls for an end to the formal legislative session on July 31 of the second year of the two-year session, in order to continue debate over this important bill.

The legislation, which includes more than $1 billion in tax cuts and rebates, plus investments toward local projects and a variety of sectors, was derailed in the last week of the legislative session amidst last-minute concerns raised over the law known as Chapter 62F. The law, which was approved by voters in 1986, places a cap on state tax revenue growth and mandates the overage to be returned to individuals who paid income taxes last year.

On September 15, State Auditor Suzanne Bump announced that, per her office’s analysis, in compliance with Chapter 62F, nearly $3 billion in excess tax revenues must be returned to taxpayers. Now, it is up to the Legislature to take action in expending these funds and passing the economic development bill.

Now more than ever, our working families need every possible resource to help them through these challenging economic times. Especially now that the Auditor has certified this excess revenue, the Legislature has zero excuse regarding coming back into session to pass this economic relief bill. Let’s get it done as soon as possible.

If you have any questions on this or any other issue, please feel free to contact me anytime via email at Diana.Dizoglio@masenate.gov or phone at 978-984-7747.
Yours in service, Diana ◊