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< Back Fair Share Amendment Ballot Campaign Launches Second TV Ad Andrew Farnitano Sep 7, 2022 With Question 1 on the November Ballot, “The Very Rich Pay Their Fair Share, and Our Schools and Our Children See the Benefits” For Immediate Release September 7, 2022 Contact: Andrew Farnitano, 925-917-1354, andrew@crawfordstrategies.com Fair Share Amendment Ballot Campaign Launches Second TV Ad With Question 1 on the November Ballot, “The Very Rich Pay Their Fair Share, and Our Schools and Our Children See the Benefits” BOSTON – The campaign working to pass the Fair Share Amendment today announced the launch of its second television ad , part of an eight-figure TV ad campaign that will run through Election Day. The Fair Share Amendment, the proposed state tax on incomes above $1 million, would raise billions of dollars to invest in transportation and public education. It is Question 1 on the November statewide ballot. Titled ‘ Better ,’ the ad features Cynthia Roy, a public school teacher from New Bedford, talking about how Question 1 will help our public schools recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Question 1 is a chance to make things better,” she says in the ad. “It raises $2 billion a year, constitutionally dedicated to public education and transportation, so we can end the teacher shortage, hire more counselors, and provide better support for students.” Thousands of educators, workers, small business owners, parents, faith leaders, municipal officials, drivers and transit riders, and more than 300 organizations across the state are working together on the Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign to pass Question 1. After years of grassroots advocacy, the state Legislature voted in June 2021 to place the Fair Share Amendment on the November 2022 statewide ballot, where it is now set to be decided on by the voters as Question 1. Background on Question 1: the Fair Share Amendment The Fair Share Amendment – Question 1 on the November ballot – will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their fair share. Question 1 would create a 4 percent tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and constitutionally dedicate the funds to be spent on transportation and public education. Only people who earn more than $1 million annually will be impacted; 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. And we’ll all benefit from better schools, roads, bridges, and public transportation. Learn more and get involved at FairShareMA.com Previous Next

Public Schools: Colleges and Universities For too many college students, earning a diploma means going into thousands of dollars in debt, working full-time, and handling a full-time college course load. For decades, Massachusetts has been pulling resources out of our public colleges and universities. Now, tuitions and fees at those public colleges and universities are among the highest in the country, and students are struggling to pay for these rapidly increasing costs. College shouldn’t be only accessible for the rich: we need to re-invest in quality public higher education, so that middle- and working-class families in our state can once again afford to send their kids to college. A critical step toward social and economic mobility is increasingly out of reach for Latino and Black families in Massachusetts. Too many are forced to abandon their hope of a college degree — further exacerbating barriers people of color already face in higher education and in the workforce. In communities of color, only 36% of residents have a bachelor’s degree — compared to over 50% of residents in predominantly white communities. We need to make our community colleges and state universities affordable again so that every young person who wants a college education is not burdened with decades of debt. TODAY, we can pave a better path for the next generation of students. Get the facts on what Question 1 means for public education K-12. READ THE RUNDOWN Join the team: VOLUNTEER FIND AN EVENT GET UPDATES

< Back Lawrence City Council Endorses Question 1 to Invest in Transportation and Public Education Aug 3, 2022 Council Join Growing Coalition Supporting Fair Share Amendment Tax on Million-Dollar Earners on November Ballot Lawrence, Mass. – The Lawrence City Council last night passed a resolution in support of the Fair Share Amendment, joining other municipal leaders from across the state in backing the proposed state tax on incomes above $1 million which would raise billions of dollars to invest in transportation and public education. The Fair Share Amendment is Question 1 on the November statewide ballot. Supporters of the resolution spoke about how Question 1 would help Lawrence and all of Massachusetts by making our tax system fairer and constitutionally dedicating billions of dollars in new revenue for education and transportation investments. “Súper emocionada de ver presentado está resolución en apoyo en la Enmienda De Parte Justa, junto a mis colegas del concilio nosotros estamos comprometidos en crear mejores oportunidades para nuestras comunidades y esta propuesta de ley trae los recursos para invertir en educación, y la infraestructura de transportación para todos en Massachusetts,” said Lawrence City Councilor Celina Reyes . (Translation: “I’m super excited to see this resolution presented in support of the Fair Share Amendment, together with my council colleagues. We are committed to creating better opportunities for our communities and this bill brings the resources to invest in education and transportation infrastructure for all in Massachusetts.” “La enmendia de porcion justa es buena para nuestra ciudad porque va traer mucha oportunidad para inversiones en escuelas publicas y la infraestructura de nuestra ciudad,” said Altagracia Garcia, a Lawrence personal care attendant and member of 1199SEIU , who spoke at the Council meeting. (Translation: “The Fair Share Amendment is good for our city because it will bring a lot of opportunity for investments in public schools and the infrastructure of our city.") “In Massachusetts, it has never been clearer that we must invest significant resources into our transportation and education sectors across the state now. I applaud the Lawrence City Council for highlighting these critical funding priorities and calling for an improved, equitable, and safe transportation system and for youth state-wide to have access to an excellent education,” said Heather McMann, Executive Director of Groundwork Lawrence . (Translation: “En Massachusetts, nunca ha sido más claro que debemos invertir ahora recursos significativos en nuestros sectores de transporte y educación en todo el estado. Aplaudo al Concejo Municipal de Lawrence por resaltar estas prioridades críticas de fondos y pedir un sistema de transporte mejorado, equitativo y seguro y que los jóvenes de todo el estado tengan acceso a una educación excelente.”) The Lawrence City Council joins several dozen municipal elected bodies, including City Councils in Fall River, Holyoke, Lynn, Malden, New Bedford, Newburyport, Pittsfield, Springfield, and Worcester, along with more than 270 organizations and thousands of activists across the state who are working together to pass Question 1 on the ballot. After years of grassroots advocacy, the state Legislature voted in June 2021 to place the Fair Share Amendment on the November 2022 statewide ballot, where it is now set to be decided on by the voters as Question 1. Background on Question 1: the Fair Share Amendment The Fair Share Amendment – Question 1 on the November ballot – will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their fair share. Question 1 would create a 4 percent tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and require – in the state constitution – that the funds be spent only on transportation and public education. Only people who earn more than $1 million annually will be impacted; 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. And we’ll all benefit from better schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and public transportation. Learn more and get involved at FairShareMA.com. Image of Court House Downtown Historic District, Lawrence, MA by EraserGirl, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Previous Next

< Back Survey finds solid support for ‘millionaires tax’ among would-be voters Jon Chesto Jul 27, 2022 Both sides in ballot measure are gearing up for big TV ad campaigns this fall Supporters of a proposed income tax surcharge on high earners remain well ahead of opponents in the latest Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll, but the two sides appear close enough that a massive TV ad campaign could decide the fate of this statewide ballot question in November. The poll of 569 registered voters taken last week, shows 56 percent support the surcharge, nicknamed the “millionaires tax” or simply “Question 1,” while 36 percent are opposed and another 8 percent remain undecided. The poll has a 4 percentage point margin of error. Other, earlier polls have generally shown more support — usually around 65 to 70 percent of respondents — for the surcharge, which proponents call the “Fair Share Amendment” and critics dub the “Tax Hike Amendment.” The ballot question would amend the state Constitution, imposing a new surcharge of 4 percentage points onto the state’s 5 percent income tax for all individual earnings over $1 million. Thus, someone earning $1.2 million would pay the flat 5 percent rate on the first $1 million, and 9 percent on the remaining $200,000. The measure would affect an estimated 20,000-plus taxpayers in any given year, and generate roughly $1 billion annually, with a stated purpose of going toward education and transportation. Bonnie Phair of South Yarmouth is among those who still need convincing. “I feel like it’s a good solution in principle but I think 4 percent is a little steep,” said Phair, who participated in the poll. “[The 9 percent] is getting close to a double-digit number.” Sixty-one percent of women said they back the surcharge, compared to half of men. Support is stronger in Boston and north of the city, and weaker in Southeastern Massachusetts, the Worcester area, and points west. Three-quarters of registered Democrats said they would support it, while only one-quarter of Republicans did (although only 63 Republicans in total responded). Education was another factor. David Paleologos, director of Suffolk University’s Political Research Center, said only 43 percent of the respondents who did not go to college supported the surcharge. He noted that previous polls did not include the actual ballot language, which includes a phrase saying the money’s use for transportation and schools would be “subject to appropriation” by the Legislature. Both sides of this debate have steered clear of expensive TV ads so far, instead starting out with less expensive social media and other digital ads. That’s about to change: Raise Up Massachusetts, the coalition behind the Fair Share proposal, recently purchased more than $10 million in TV ads for next month. Opponents are gearing up for their own television campaign to respond. By November, the two sides combined will, in all likelihood, have spent tens of millions of dollars. This ballot battle could end up becoming the most expensive in the state’s history, if it trumps the $52 million spent in 2020 over rights to access car telematics data. Some survey respondents, like Kelly Merchant, are ready to say yes. Merchant, a Hopedale resident who owns a cleaning business, said she has no problem with imposing an extra tax on the wealthy, particularly for schools and transportation. “If they make that much, why not tax them on it?” Merchant said. “I would be very grateful to be making that much [and] I would love to give back.” Others are dubious. Brian Marrotte, a Taunton resident who participated in the poll, said he is skeptical all the money will go to its intended uses and remains opposed on principle. “I don’t think people of different incomes should pay different tax rates,” Marrotte said. “It seems unfair. It should be the same percentage across the board.” It’s not yet clear who has been bankrolling either side this year; the first public data on ballot question spending in 2022 won’t be released until early September. The previous campaign finance report reflected receipts at the end of 2021, when the opposition’s ballot committee was just getting started, with backing from a number of business leaders. Several union organizations and a philanthropy associated with eBay founder Pierre Omidyar had chipped in for the “yes” vote. Expect the Raise Up ads to push the argument that the tax affects only the top 1 percent, or as Raise Up campaign manager Jeron Mariani puts it, “the super rich,” with ads that, among other things, imply this surcharge is a way to address the economic inequities that widened during the pandemic. A debate is emerging over whether the middle class could get ensnared. Opponents say people with relatively modest incomes could get hit if they sell a house in a hot market, or if they are small-business owners who report business income on their personal tax forms. But Mariani said he doubts many homeowners would be affected. Only a tiny percentage of all homes sold in Massachusetts result in a gain of more than $1 million for the seller, he noted. “What we’re really talking about is the mega-multimillion-dollar homes,” Mariani said. “Who owns that? The top 1 percent.” Dan Cence, a spokesman for the Coalition to Stop the Tax Hike Amendment, begs to differ, saying many small-business owners and homeowners will get charged at some point. Roughly half of the people who pay this surcharge would do so only once, he said, such as those selling a business or real estate. Plus, Cence said, there’s no pressing need, with the state enjoying a multibillion-dollar surplus and the Legislature about to pass a round of tax cuts. “It undermines economic growth,” he added. “And you can’t guarantee that there will be any increase in education or transportation [spending].” That question — will all this new money actually go to schools and transit? — has been persistently raised by critics over the years. Raise Up tried to get the proposed surcharge before voters in 2018. But that year, the Supreme Judicial Court agreed with business groups that had sued, and blocked the question by ruling it bundled technically unrelated concepts — an income tax hike and transportation and education spending. This time around, state lawmakers initiated the measure instead of citizens, to get around the relatedness question. Critics sued again, this time to try and insert language on the ballot noting there’s no guarantee of a net increase for transportation and education, because it’s subject to the Legislature’s appropriation. That effort failed. But the business-backed legal challenge could provide fodder for the “no” campaign’s upcoming marketing push. “It’s going to be, ‘You can’t trust the Legislature to make the decisions as to whether this money is going to education or transportation,’” said Joe Baerlein, a communications adviser who has worked on 10 ballot campaigns. “It was a smart thing they did, and also indicates one of their major themes of how they’re going to attack this.” Previous Next

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< Back Today: Senator Markey joins Somerville launch of Fair Share ballot campaign Marta Corvelo | The Somerville Times May 15, 2022 Senator Edward Markey (D–Mass) will join dozens of local supporters of the Fair Share Amendment to launch the Somerville campaign... Today: Senator Markey joins Somerville launch of Fair Share ballot campaign On May 15, 2022, in Latest News , by The Somerville Times Senator Edward Markey (D–Mass) will join dozens of local supporters of the Fair Share Amendment to launch the Somerville campaign for the statewide ballot question today, Sunday May 15. Teams of Fair Share advocates will be canvassing the Somerville’s neighborhoods and speaking directly to voters. Senator Markey and the Somerville Fair Share team join hundreds of activists in several communities across the state who support the proposed state tax on annual incomes above $1 million that will appear on the November 2022 statewide ballot. WHO Senator Edward Markey and local Somerville supporters of the Fair Share Amendment WHAT Door-to-door neighborhood canvass WHEN Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 11:00 AM WHERE Argenziano School (290 Washington Street, Somerville MA) This fall, voters have the historic opportunity to make our tax system fairer and provide funding to improve our schools, roads, bridges, and public transportation. The Fair Share Amendment on the November ballot will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their fair share. Marta Corvelo The ballot question would create a 4 percent tax on annual income above $1 million and dedicate the funds raised to transportation and public education. Only people who earn more than $1 million annually will be impacted; 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. And we’ll all benefit from better schools, roads, bridges, and public transportation. Previous Next

< Back Berkshire Eagle: Yes on Question 1 The Berkshire Eagle Oct 21, 2022 Ballot Question 1 asks voters to approve an amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution that would establish an additional four percent state income tax on the portion of annual taxable income above $1 million. A yes vote would amend the constitution to impose the additional tax, while a no vote would make no change to the state constitution. The so-called Fair Share Amendment is projected to bring more than $1 billion in additional tax revenue into state coffers without raising taxes on anyone earning under $1 million in annual taxable income. The additional money brought in by this surtax ostensibly would be earmarked for education and transportation — two areas where rural communities like ours see the need for serious reinvestment. It’s a pitch that’s tough to argue with. This measure would generate considerable new revenue simply by asking an exceptionally small percentage of exceptionally wealthy individuals to chip in another four cents on every dollar earned above $1 million. Estimates from the most recently available tax-filing data show this would fall on only about 20,000 individuals among the commonwealth’s 7 million residents— or less than 1 percent of taxpayers. In asking those most able to pay more, the state would generate sizable new funding streams for renewed public investment while shifting our regressive flat state income tax into a more progressive and fair model. We’re in favor of the Fair Share Amendment, even as we believe it’s far from the silver-bullet measure its proponents tout it to be. In our opinion, it would be far better to adopt a truly progressive state income tax with more brackets and finely tuned marginal rates, as opposed to a two-tiered structure based on the marketability of a term like “the millionaire’s tax.” Given the social will and political capital expended on getting this measure on the ballot, it likely means that hopes of a serious discussion on a more appropriately honed progressive income tax structure will be delayed if not dashed. And while we don’t think this rather modest tax increase on those most able to pay will resort in a mass exodus from the Bay State, its proponents’ convictions that it won’t cause any wealthy residents’ exit are specious at best. On a procedural note, while the language of the amendment calls for the additional generated revenue to be spent on education or transportation, it would still be subject to appropriation by the Legislature. This makes the oversimplified notion that this additional $1 billion-plus in revenue will automatically flow into transportation and education funding somewhat misleading. If it does pass, it will be up to all of us to hold our lawmakers accountable to the spirit of this measure and apply the necessary political pressure to ensure this money goes where it’s intended. Of course, the opponents to the question have much more full-throated critiques. Chief among them is the charge that this new tax will result in hardship for certain residents who are far from millionaires, such as small business owners, seniors selling their homes or farmers selling their land. It’s true that income from selling a house or from certain business structures counts as personal taxable income, those netting more than $1 million from annual business income or a home sale would still make up a tiny minority of Mass. residents, and are arguably well-equipped to pay a few cents more on the dollar over the first million made. It’s also worth noting that there is a sizable tax credit for sale of a domicile — $250,000 for single filers, $500,000 for married filers — which means that those selling their primary homes would not even hit the threshold for this new tax unless the sale generates well over $1 million. The Fair Share Amendment’s opponents know that this tax will ultimately impact very, very few people in the commonwealth, so their suggestion that the average small-business owner or senior on a fixed income would get hit by this measure amounts to scare-mongering. So, too, does their disingenuous talking point that the Fair Share Amendment represents an “80 percent tax hike,” which they know plays fast and loose with the facts on how marginal rates work. Even the relatively few whose high income would trigger this new surtax would not see an 80 percent increase in their total tax bill, as only taxable income above the first million would see an extra four-cent surtax. Where the opposition does have a point is the potential vulnerability of farmers who might sell all or some of their land in retirement or to make ends meet. That singular point should not torpedo the Fair Share Amendment, but it should behoove the Legislature to act swiftly in creating a tax break protecting farmers who might see a onetime hit from the measure if it passes. And based on the available polling data, it’s looking likely that this measure will pass. If it does, this will be serious step toward making the state tax system more equitable in a way that only impacts a very while generating revenue for public investment that our communities desperately need. That’s an opportunity Massachusetts voters shouldn’t pass up. The Eagle endorses a yes vote on Question 1. Previous Next

< Back Fair Share Amendment Ballot Campaign Launches First TV Ad Aug 17, 2022 Win-Win” Highlights How Question 1 on the November Ballot Will Mean “Better Schools and Roads, and a Tax System That’s Fairer” BOSTON – The campaign working to pass the Fair Share Amendment today announced the launch of its first television ad , part of an eight-figure TV ad campaign that will run through Election Day. The Fair Share Amendment, the proposed state tax on incomes above $1 million, would raise billions of dollars to invest in transportation and public education. It is Question 1 on the November statewide ballot. “We began running TV ads this week, but our campaign supporters – educators, parents, and neighbors all across the state – have already reached out to more than half a million voters going door-to-door and by phone,” said Fair Share for Massachusetts Campaign Manager Jeron Mariani . “Through an expansive campaign over the airwaves, online, and on the ground, we're telling voters about the facts of Question 1: that only the super-rich who earn more than $1 million a year will pay more, and we'll all benefit from the $2 billion a year that is constitutionally dedicated to our schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and transit infrastructure.” Titled ‘ Win-Win ,’ the ad begins by explaining how Massachusetts working people pay a higher share in taxes than the wealthiest one percent. Research from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center shows that while most people in Massachusetts pay between 8 and 10 percent of our personal income in state and local taxes, the highest-income 1 percent of taxpayers pay just 6.8 percent. “Question 1 changes that, so those making over $1 million a year pay their fair share,” the ad continues. “Ninety-nine percent of us won’t pay a penny more. And Question 1 raises $2 billion a year that the constitution dedicates to public schools, colleges and roads and bridges.” Question 1, which voters will decide on the November ballot, would amend the Massachusetts constitution to create a 4 percent tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and constitutionally dedicate the funds to be spent on transportation and public education. Less than 1 percent of Massachusetts taxpayers earn over $1 million in a single year and would pay the new tax, but we would all benefit from the improved schools and transportation infrastructure Question 1 will help fund. The ad ends by summing up the benefits of Question 1 for Massachusetts: “Better schools and roads, and a tax system that’s fairer. Question 1 is a win-win for Massachusetts.” Thousands of educators, workers, small business owners, parents, faith leaders, municipal officials, drivers and transit riders, and more than 280 organizations across the state are working together on the Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign to pass Question 1. After years of grassroots advocacy, the state Legislature voted in June 2021 to place the Fair Share Amendment on the November 2022 statewide ballot, where it is now set to be decided on by the voters as Question 1. The ad can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8NjwlAZhG4 . Background on Question 1: the Fair Share Amendment The Fair Share Amendment – Question 1 on the November ballot – will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their fair share. Question 1 would create a 4 percent tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and require – in the state constitution – that the funds be spent only on transportation and public education. Only people who earn more than $1 million annually will be impacted; 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. And we’ll all benefit from better schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and public transportation. Learn more and get involved at FairShareMA.com. ### The Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign is led by Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition of community organizations, faith-based groups, and labor unions committed to building an economy that invests in families, gives everyone the opportunity to succeed, and creates broadly shared prosperity. Since our coalition came together in 2013, we have nearly doubled wages for hundreds of thousands of working people by winning two increases in the state’s minimum wage, won best-in-the-nation earned sick time and paid family and medical leave benefits for workers and their families, and started to build an economy that works for all of us, not just those at the top. Previous Next

< Back More Than 500 Organizations Across MA Support Question 1 to Improve Schools & Roads with Tax on Million-Dollar Earners Oct 19, 2022 As Voting Begins, New Poll Shows 58% of Voters Supporting Question 1 BOSTON – As voters begin casting their mail-in ballots this week, and in-person early voting begins over the weekend, more than 500 organizations across the state are united in supporting Question 1, the proposed ‘Fair Share Amendment’ that would tax incomes above $1 million and raise billions of dollars that are constitutionally dedicated to transportation and public education. And in a sign of the continued momentum for Question 1, a new Suffolk University/Boston Globe/NBC10 Boston/Telemundo poll of Massachusetts voters found 58 percent support for Question 1, compared to 37 percent opposition. “Tens of thousands of educators, workers, small business owners, parents, faith leaders, municipal officials, drivers and transit riders, and more than 500 organizations across the state are all working together to pass Question 1 in November,” said Lillian Lanier, Field Director for Fair Share for Massachusetts. “We’re supporting Question 1 because we know it will help improve our schools and transportation infrastructure, and only the very rich will pay more. A few billionaires are trying to mislead voters about what Question 1 does, but our grassroots supporters are having thousands of conversations every day to combat their misinformation.” The Yes on Question 1 campaign has been endorsed by 87 labor unions; 72 community organizing groups; 18 faith-based groups; more than 75 businesses; 64 city councils, select boards, and school committees; 89 local Democratic town and ward committees; and 115 other social service and not-for-profit organizations focused on housing, education, transportation, public health, and the environment. A full list of the 500+ organizations supporting Question 1 can be found here . Supporters of Question 1 call the Amendment an opportunity for Massachusetts to improve our schools and colleges, fix our roads and bridges, create jobs, and boost our economy, all without 99% of taxpayers paying a single cent more. “Question 1 is a chance to make things better,” says New Bedford public school teacher Cynthia Roy in one of the campaign’s ads. “It raises $2 billion a year, constitutionally dedicated to public education and transportation, so we can end the teacher shortage, hire more counselors, and provide better support for students.” “[Question 1] creates thousands of new jobs at the same time,” says Canton operating engineer Jimmy Marenghi in another ad. “And only the super rich pay for it, not families like mine. Opponents of Question 1, funded by a few billionaire CEOs who don’t want to pay their fair share in taxes, are trying to scare seniors and small business owners about the effects of Question 1, but the facts are clear. Question 1 is a tax on personal income over $1 million – business taxes would not be affected, and Question 1 doesn’t apply to any business’s revenues. Less than 3 percent of businesses owners in Massachusetts have taxable personal income over $1 million that would be subject to Question 1, and many of them are primarily investors or shareholders, not people running a business day-to-day. “If a business is generating more than a million dollars in personal profit for the owner, even after they deduct all their business expenses, let’s be real: it’s not a small business, and that super-rich business owner can afford to pay their fair share in taxes,” says Gerly Adrien, Business Director of Fair Share for Massachusetts & owner of Tipping Cow Ice Cream in Somerville and Boston. "Question 1 wouldn't make small businesses like ours pay a single penny more. But every business in Massachusetts will benefit when we have a more reliable transportation system to get our customers in the door and our employees to and from work," says Karsen Eckweiler, co-owner of Democracy Brewing in Boston . "We'll all benefit from better schools and colleges that prepare a well-educated workforce. And anyone who makes more than a million dollars in a single year can easily afford to pay a little more — just four cents on every dollar from their second million, and everything above it — to help build a stronger economy for all of us." And research from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, based on Massachusetts taxpayer data from the IRS, proves conclusively that less than 1 percent of seniors will pay more in taxes if Question 1 on the November ballot is approved, including when they sell their homes. “As a retiree and homeowner, I know that Question 1 won't affect me and my wife when we sell our home. It makes me angry that the billionaire opponents of Question 1 are trying to scare us with misleading ads,” says John Lippitt, a Reading homeowner and retiree. “I’m supporting Question 1 because 99% of us, including home sellers and retirees, won’t pay more, but we'll all benefit from better roads and bridges, and our grandkids will enjoy better schools and affordable public college.” Even in Massachusetts’s hot housing market, only a tiny percentage of home sellers would see their taxable income rise above $1 million. Last year, only 895 homes, less than 1 percent of all home sales in the state, generated enough of a gain to be affected by Question 1. That's because it's the gain in value since the house was originally purchased, not the full sales price, that is subject to income tax. Plus, home sellers can deduct up to $500,000 from their taxes on the sale of their primary residence, and also deduct the entire cost of a renovated kitchen, an updated heating system, a new roof, or any other major improvements. Local data on home sales shows that in the majority of towns across the Commonwealth, not a single home was sold for a gain of $1 million or more. Only 22 towns had more than 10 sales yield a gain of $1.5 million or more, enough to be affected by Question 1 after deductions are taken. For supporters, Question 1 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fund our public schools and colleges and repair our roads, bridges, and transit, all by making the very rich pay their fair share in state taxes. “When I go door to door talking to voters about Question 1, I’m joined by educators, parents, and school staff who want our schools to have adequate staffing to give students one-on-one attention and help them recover from learning loss,” said Liz Speakman, a Quincy parent. “I’m joined by drivers who want to see the potholes on our main streets fixed, bus riders who are worried about the state of our public transportation infrastructure, and students who want to get a public college degree without taking on enormous debt. That’s who our campaign is, and I know that when working people join together and have conversations with our neighbors, we can overcome the scare tactics of a few billionaires.” Background on Question 1: the Fair Share Amendment The Fair Share Amendment – Question 1 on the November ballot – will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their fair share. Question 1 would create a 4 percent tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and constitutionally dedicate the funds to be spent on transportation and public education. Only people who earn more than $1 million annually will be impacted; 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. And we’ll all benefit from better schools, roads, bridges, and public transportation. Thousands of educators, workers, small business owners, parents, faith leaders, municipal officials, drivers and transit riders, and more than 500 organizations across the state are working together to pass Question 1. Our campaign has been endorsed by 87 labor unions ; 72 community organizing groups ; 18 faith-based groups ; more than 75 businesses ; 64 city councils, select boards, and school committees ; 89 local Democratic town and ward committees ; and 115 other social service and not-for-profit organizations focused on housing, education, transportation, public health, and the environment. Learn more and get involved at FairShareMA.com . ### The Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign is led by Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition of community organizations, faith-based groups, and labor unions committed to building an economy that invests in families, gives everyone the opportunity to succeed, and creates broadly shared prosperity. Since our coalition came together in 2013, we have nearly doubled wages for hundreds of thousands of working people by winning two increases in the state’s minimum wage, won best-in-the-nation earned sick time and paid family and medical leave benefits for workers and their families, and started to build an economy that works for all of us, not just those at the top. Previous Next

< Back 18 Education and Youth Advocacy Organizations Endorse Question 1 to Improve Transportation and Public Education Aug 15, 2022 Parents, Students, and Educators Join Growing Coalition Supporting Fair Share Amendment Tax on Million-Dollar Earners on November Ballot BOSTON – The campaign working to pass the Fair Share Amendment, the proposed state tax on incomes above $1 million which would raise billions of dollars to invest in transportation and public education, today announced the endorsement of 18 education and youth advocacy organizations from across the state. The Fair Share Amendment is Question 1 on the November statewide ballot. “It’s not fair that millionaires get richer and richer, while the ceilings in some of our children’s schools leak buckets when it rains,” said Suleika Soto, a Boston parent and Acting Director at Boston Education Justice Alliance. “We look forward to the Fair Share Amendment leveling the playing field and providing long-needed funding for our children’s futures.” The 18 education and youth advocacy organizations collectively represent thousands of parents, students, educators, and education and youth advocates from across Massachusetts. “We wholeheartedly endorse the Fair Share Amendment because we need it to ensure that each student in Massachusetts receives a high-quality, well-resourced education, now and in the years ahead,” said Lisa Guisbond, Executive Director at Citizens for Public Schools. “With funding made available by Question 1, we can sustainably reduce class sizes, hire enough school counselors, and better support English language learners. It is completely fair to require our wealthiest Massachusetts residents to pay 4 percent more per year on the income they earn in excess of $1 million. Doing so will enable us to uplift many thousands of children and support their future thoughtful participation in our democracy.” “Students and educators at every school across Massachusetts should have the highest quality public education possible,” said Vatsady Sivongxay, a Cambridge parent and executive director of the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance - Education Fund. “Question 1, the Fair Share Amendment, is an opportunity to generate billions of dollars and create a permanent resource pipeline for equitable public schools and colleges. The historic Student Opportunity Act, passed in 2019, promises funding increases for local schools over the next five years, and the Fair Share Amendment will be key to fulfilling that promise to provide the necessary resources for our students and schools. Additionally, the Fair Share Amendment is key to ending the cycle of student debt that so many low-income, working-class, and BIPOC students and families take on in hopes of a better future.” “The Fair Share Amendment is a stepping stone towards a future in which all students receive the well-rounded education they deserve, including access to art programming, regardless of socioeconomic status,” said Rania Henriquez, Community Resource Coordinator, and Emma Burke, Social Justice Coordinator, at Elevated Thought. “As an organization dedicated to creative enrichment for young people and social justice, adequate funding for public education is non-negotiable. Progressive taxation is needed to equitably and sustainably provide the educational experience young people deserve.” “The Center of Teen Empowerment stands to create youth leaders that work for justice and equity in communities like Somerville and Boston. We support the Fair Share Amendment because of the impact it could have on the schools and communities we care so deeply about,” said Abrigal Forrester, executive director of the Center for Teen Empowerment. “Passing Fair Share will not only give back to our schools, but it will also improve our public transportation across the state. These improvements will help the people who need it most, which includes young people who attend public schools and rely on public transportation, rather than allowing the rich to continue to get richer.” The education and youth advocacy organizations join more than 280 organizations and thousands of activists across the state who are working together to pass Question 1 on the ballot. The campaign previously announced support from 63 community organizing groups, 26 housing and community development organizations, 28 social service providers, 15 faith-based groups, 7 public health organizations, 7 environmental and climate organizations, and 10 transportation advocacy organizations. After years of grassroots advocacy, the state Legislature voted in June 2021 to place the Fair Share Amendment on the November 2022 statewide ballot, where it is now set to be decided on by the voters as Question 1. The full list of endorsing education and youth advocacy organizations is below, and a full list of organizations that have endorsed Question 1 is available at fairsharema.com/endorsements . Boston Asian: Youth Essential Service Boston Education Justice Alliance (BEJA) Central MA Youth Jobs Coalition Citizens for Public Schools EdNavigator Educators for Excellence Boston Elevated Thought I Have A Future Latino Education Institute at Worcester State University Massachusetts Advocates for Children Massachusetts Association of School Committees Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance - Public Action Network Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM) Revere Youth In Action Teen Empowerment Zero Debt Massachusetts Background on Question 1: the Fair Share Amendment The Fair Share Amendment – Question 1 on the November ballot – will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their fair share. Question 1 would create a 4 percent tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and require – in the state constitution – that the funds be spent only on transportation and public education. Only people who earn more than $1 million annually will be impacted; 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. And we’ll all benefit from better schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and public transportation. Learn more and get involved at FairShareMA.com. ### The Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign is led by Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition of community organizations, faith-based groups, and labor unions committed to building an economy that invests in families, gives everyone the opportunity to succeed, and creates broadly shared prosperity. Since our coalition came together in 2013, we have nearly doubled wages for hundreds of thousands of working people by winning two increases in the state’s minimum wage, won best-in-the-nation earned sick time and paid family and medical leave benefits for workers and their families, and started to build an economy that works for all of us, not just those at the top. Previous Next

< Back Yes on 1 Campaign: School Counselors’ Plea for Help Highlights Urgent Need for Fair Share Amendment to Fund K-12 Education Oct 13, 2022 Question 1 on the November Ballot Would Help Fund Schools, Colleges, Roads, Bridges & Transit BOSTON – In response to a call from a coalition of Massachusetts school-based counselors and educators for additional resources and staff to meet the mental health needs of students, the campaign working to pass the Fair Share Amendment today emphasized the need for additional funding for K-12 schools. “Students throughout Massachusetts are struggling to recover from the effects of the pandemic – both academically and when it comes to their mental health. They clearly need more support than they’re getting today, and that’s what Question 1 will deliver,” said Jeron Mariani, Campaign Manager for Fair Share for Massachusetts . “We cannot afford to let an entire generation of young people fall behind. Question 1 will deliver billions of dollars to help support public school students with more individualized attention, more counselors, and more wrap-around services to meet their individual needs and get them back on track.” The Fair Share Amendment, the proposed state tax on incomes above $1 million, would raise billions of dollars that are constitutionally dedicated to transportation and public education. It is Question 1 on the November statewide ballot. According to the Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Massachusetts has only 1 counselor for every 364 students, much less than the expert recommendation of at least 1 for every 250 students. Nationally, 70% of public schools have reported an increase in the percentage of students seeking mental health services at school since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and 76% of schools also reported an increase in staff voicing concerns about students exhibiting symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. "I’ve seen my kids and their peers go through so much over the past few years. It’s been really tough for them!” said Liz Speakman, a mother of two from Quincy . “Question 1 is a chance to give them healthier learning environments where they can concentrate on their education. Question 1 would let us make the investments our kids need so they can reach their full potential.” Background on Question 1: the Fair Share Amendment The Fair Share Amendment – Question 1 on the November ballot – will allow Massachusetts to improve our transportation and public education systems by making the very rich pay their fair share. Question 1 would create a 4 percent tax on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million and constitutionally dedicate the funds to be spent on transportation and public education. Only people who earn more than $1 million annually will be impacted; 99% of us won’t pay a penny more. And we’ll all benefit from better schools, roads, bridges, and public transportation. Thousands of educators, workers, small business owners, parents, faith leaders, municipal officials, drivers and transit riders, and more than 350 organizations across the state are working together to pass Question 1. Our campaign has been endorsed by 80 labor unions , 63 community organizing groups , 15 faith-based groups , more than 75 businesses , and more than 100 other social service and not-for-profit organizations focused on housing, education, transportation, public health, and the environment. Learn more and get involved at FairShareMA.com. ### The Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign is led by Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition of community organizations, faith-based groups, and labor unions committed to building an economy that invests in families, gives everyone the opportunity to succeed, and creates broadly shared prosperity. Since our coalition came together in 2013, we have nearly doubled wages for hundreds of thousands of working people by winning two increases in the state’s minimum wage, won best-in-the-nation earned sick time and paid family and medical leave benefits for workers and their families, and started to build an economy that works for all of us, not just those at the top. Previous Next

< Back Attleboro Sun Chronicle: A 'Yes' on Question 1 will benefit most The Editorial Board Oct 27, 2022 Taxing Massachusetts workers earning more than $1 million at a higher rate will affect very few and harm almost none of them. But it will benefit virtually everyone in the state. That’s why we strongly endorse a “Yes” on Question 1 for the election that ends Nov. 8. Massachusetts has a flat tax system and currently taxes all income levels at the same rate: 5%. The referendum would amend the state constitution to introduce an additional 4% surtax on anyone’s income above $1 million. The United States has a progressive tax system, and Massachusetts would join 34 other states if Question 1 is adopted. Only six other states have a flat tax. A study from Tufts University’s Center for State Policy Analysis said that the change would generate about $1.3 billion of revenue in 2023 and would apply to about 0.6% of households in the state. That’s less than 16,000 of the Bay State’s approximately 2.54 million households. There are some “one-time millionaires” who will be affected, and the opposition — which includes Gillette Stadium owner Robert Kraft, who contributed $1 million to the cause — has tried to sway the public by generating sympathy for those individuals. For instance, if you bought a home years ago for $300,000 and it sold today for $1.8 million after broker fees are paid, you still would not pay the surtax. When it comes to home or property sales, the tax only applies to the capital gains, $1.5 million. And couples have a $500,000 exemption for property sales. Even that scenario would be rare. In 2021, only 2 percent of Massachusetts home sales resulted in capital gains of more than $1 million, according to a state analysis. The opposition has also overstated the impact on small business owners who sell and are counting on it for a retirement nest egg. If the owner has capital gains of $2 million, the tax bill will rise from $100,000 to $140,000. Most of us would be happy with that remaining nest egg. Another argument against Question 1 is that the state is sitting on a huge surplus and doesn’t need the money. But a good chunk of that money is expected to be returned to inflation-strapped taxpayers. And if we know one thing about Massachusetts politics, it’s that the state won’t have plenty of money for too long. Approving this referendum will lock in another revenue source while affecting very few wallets. The people of Massachusetts do need help now, however, and that’s the biggest reason we urge your support. Revenue from the surtax is earmarked for education and transportation, and while there is some question whether the Legislature can spend elsewhere, we doubt lawmakers will override the will of voters, at least initially. The surtax targets Massachusetts two greatest needs: Improving our schools and our transportation infrastructure. As the shocking drop in test scores indicates, students were seriously set back by the pandemic. Teachers need help getting kids back on track, and they need it quickly. And anyone who drives our pothole-filled streets or is detoured by a bridge closing or depends on the MBTA to get to work understands the need to improve our transportation. Better schools and better transportation help everyone. Question 1 provides an opportunity to improve the lives of all Bay Staters while only asking a little more from our most affluent residents. We urge you to vote “Yes.” Previous Next