How the Massachusetts Ballot Questions Impact You

Hello blog readers!

My name is Michael Nichols, and I’m a new ONEin3 blogger!  Before I blog about today’s topic, I figured I should introduce myself:  I’m 27, from Connecticut, live in the Back Bay (but moving to Audubon Circle in Fenway/Kenmore next week), employed as Legal Counsel to a committee at the Massachusetts Legislature, and serve as an adjunct professor of political science (most recently at Lesley University in Cambridge).  I’m expecting to contribute periodically on legal and political issues of interest to young professionals in Boston, among other topics.  As I do in my class, I’m hoping to err on the side of being informative in a nonpartisan manner, so feel free to check me in the comments!  On to today’s post:

If you didn’t know, tomorrow is Election Day.  I have a feeling you knew.  (In alphabetical order:  Hunch one. Hunch two. Hunch three. Hunch four.)

What you might not know is that when you enter the booth, you’ll also be hit with three voter-initiated questions that each impact young professionals.  In Massachusetts, voters can petition certain topics to become law by putting them on the ballot to be considered by voters in a general election.  If approved, the petition becomes law.

The first ballot question this year seeks to repeal the new state sales tax on the purchase of alcoholic beverages.  This past legislatives session – in order to close the state’s budget deficit without relying solely on cutting spending or removing funds from the state’s rainy day fund – the Legislature increased the state sales tax from 5% to 6.25%.  In addition, the state opted to remove an exemption that previously had kept the sale of alcoholic beverages (or their importation into the state) from being assessed the sales tax.  However, separate from the sales tax, alcoholic beverages were (and are) subject to a separate excise tax.

Proponents say the added sales tax (on top of the excise tax) is an unfair ‘double tax’ that unnecessarily increases the cost of purchasing alcohol in Massachusetts.  They say this leads to job losses and reduced business at liquor stores around the state – particularly near the New Hampshire border where competing stores in that state do not have to assess a sales tax on the purchase of alcohol.

Who’s really in favor?  Liquor stores and liquor distributors.

Opponents say the added sales tax is not unfair and that alcohol, as an optional good, should not be subject to the same sales tax exemption as necessities such as food, clothing and prescription medication.  They further argue that the funds from the tax go towards healthcare services for those with behavior health problems, teen drinking prevention programs, and treatment services for those with addictions.  Funding, they claim, that would be reduced or eliminated without the tax proceeds given the current pressures on the state’s operating budget.

Who’s really against?  Hospitals and non-profits that address addiction services.

What you should do:  You should vote ‘YES’ if you wish to eliminate the 6.25% sales tax on alcohol despite the consequences outlined by the opponents.  You should vote ‘NO’ if you wish to keep the 6.25% sales tax on alcohol despite the consequences outlined by the proponents.

The second ballot question seeks to repeal an existing state law that allows a qualified organization wishing to build government-subsidized housing that includes low- or moderate-income units to apply for a single comprehensive permit from a city or town’s zoning board of appeals, instead of separate permits from each local agency or official having jurisdiction over any aspect of the proposed housing.  Currently the zoning board will hold a hearing on the comprehensive application and consider testimony from local officials that would otherwise have separate permitting authority.  A repeal of Chapter 40B would, initially, give a number of different agencies and officials an ability to derail or prevent a specific affordable housing project from being built as they currently can do for other types of development in cities and towns around the Commonwealth.

Proponents say the 40-year-old current law related to affordable housing, Chapter 40B, does adequately address the issue of affordable housing by placing too much power in the hands of developers and not enough in the hands of towns/cities to plan for their own growth.  Proponents further claim that the existing law promotes larger scale projects (where developers are more likely to recoup more money by reserving only the minimum number of units for low- or moderate- income housing) in lieu of smaller scale projects.

Who’s really in favor?  Advocacy groups, such as ‘Affordable Housing Now’ and ‘Better Not Bigger’, who are not outwardly tied to an industry/trade or organization.

Opponents say that to repeal Chapter 40B, without a specified replacement, would do more harm to the goal of affordable housing than good.  Some opponents, such as Governor Patrick, claim that legislative reform to Chapter 40B, not its repeal, is the better way to go.  Other opponents caution job losses related to current projects that would be halted or abandoned if the repeal measure is passed.  Further, opponents claim that the petition is mainly supported by more affluent towns as a way to preclude affordable housing developments from being built in their towns.

Who’s really against?  Realtors, Home Builders Trade Associations, Real Estate Developers, All four candidates for Governor, League of Women Voters of MA, MA Council of Churches, Environmental League of MA, Eight Habitat for Humanity Chapters in MA, among others.

What you should do:  You should vote ‘YES’ if you wish to repeal the state law, Chapter 40B, which allows for the issuance of a single, comprehensive permit to build housing that includes low- or moderate- income units despite the concerns from opponents that this will harm the construction of affordable housing in Massachusetts.  You should vote ‘NO’ if you wish to make no change in the state law allowing issuance of such a comprehensive permit despite the concerns from proponents that the current law, as designed, does more harm than good to the concept of affordable housing in Massachusetts.

The third ballot question seeks to roll back the state sales (and use) tax from 6.25% to 3%, or the lowest level allowed by law after accounting for all lawful pledges of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  This past legislatives session – in order to close the state’s budget deficit without relying solely on cutting spending or removing funds from the state’s rainy day fund – the Legislature increased the state sales tax from 5% to 6.25%.

Proponents say a significant reduction in the state sales tax would reduce the size government, forcing government to cut wasteful and excessive spending, while incentivizing more spending in Massachusetts by out-of-state residents,  thus creating new jobs.  Proponents contend the roll back would most help those at the bottom of the socio-economic spectrum in Massachusetts by permitting them to spend less for the same level of purchasing.

Who’s really in favor?  An advocacy group, The Alliance to Roll Back Taxes, which is not outwardly tied to an industry/trade or organization, in addition to the Boston Herald.

Opponents say that any cut in the state sales tax will bring a drastic reduction in state revenues which, when paired with the lower revenues associated with reduced spending from the recent/current economic recession, would necessitate draconian reductions in government services and the number of public employees.  Opponents claim the cuts would mostly involve the areas of public safety, education, and social services.  Opponents also claim that a roll back from 6.25% to 5% after tax revenues return to pre-recession levels would have strong political backing, and that going from 6.25% to 3% is far too drastic – both now and after the conclusion of the recession.

Who’s really against?  All four candidates for governor, public employee unions in Massachusetts (particularly the teachers unions), labor unions, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, and the Boston Globe.

What you should do:  You should vote ‘YES’ if you wish to roll back the state sales tax from 6.25% to 3% (or the lowest amount permitted by law after accounting for all lawful pledges of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  You should vote ‘NO’ if you wish to make no change in the state law allowing issuance of such a comprehensive permit.

Whatever you choose when you get in the booth tomorrow, I hope now you’ll feel more confident you know what you’re voting on!  If you don’t know where you vote, you can find that information here!  If I could give each one of you one of these, I would.

And, finally, while I have made an attempt not to reflect any of my own opinions in this piece, any opinions that are contained herein are my own and in no way reflect opinions of ONEin3 Boston, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, or the City of Boston.