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< Back Amesbury, Newburyport School Committees Join 50+ Communities Endorsing Question 1 to Improve Local Schools & Roads with Tax on Million-Dollar Earners Oct 18, 2022 BOSTON – Last night, the Amesbury and Newburyport School Committees each passed resolutions in support of Question 1 on the November ballot, joining dozens of other municipal leaders across the state in supporting 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. “As a district, Amesbury is struggling to keep up with funding infrastructure projects, as well as to hire staff to help students recover from the effect COVID has had on learning,” said Amesbury School Committee member Mel Webster . “This year, our budget allocation from the city increased by less than 1.7 percent. On top of that, we continue to struggle with unfunded state mandates, an issue recently chronicled by our State Auditor. The hope is Massachusetts voters approve the Fair Share Amendment and additional funds make their way to Amesbury.” “If passed, Question 1 will provide a lasting revenue stream of constitutionally-mandated funds to support the needs of all students and improve the quality of public education,” said Newburyport School Committee Member Sarah Hall . Local volunteers also knocked on hundreds of doors throughout the two cities during canvasses launched by the Newburyport City Democratic Committee and AFT Amesbury Local #1033 . Participants in the Newburyport canvass included City Councillors Jennie Donahue, Ed Cameron and Bruce Vogel, former councilor Charlie Tontar, and school committee member Sara Hall. “As I spoke to voters, they expressed strong support for the improvements to our schools, roads, and transit that Question 1 would help fund,” said volunteer Pam Wool of Newburyport . “Some who answered the door expressed some confusion about how home sales fit into Question 1, and I was able to clarify.” “The only home sales that would be affected are those that generate a capital gain of more than one million dollars after taking deductions into account,” Wool explained. Home sellers can deduct from their taxes the original purchase price, a deduction of $500,00 for married couples or $250,000 for individuals, plus any investments made in the house like a new roof, renovated kitchen, or updated heating. “In Newburyport, only 3 home sales last year sold for enough of a gain to be affected by Question 1 after the deduction for couples is applied. Once I explained this, confusion turned to support.” In recent months, resolutions supporting Question 1 have been passed by 19 city councils, 16 town select boards, and 29 school committees, collectively representing more than 50 communities across Massachusetts. Communities range in size from rural towns such as Windsor (population 831) and New Salem (population 983), to many of the Commonwealth’s largest cities, including Worcester, Springfield, and Boston. City Councils in Amesbury and Newburyport both voted to support Question 1 earlier this year. “Many of us came to and continue to live in Newburyport because of all the assets that the state brings in terms of an educated workforce and other important public infrastructure,” said Newburyport At-Large Councillor Edward Cameron in May, when the Council voted to endorse Question 1. “These proposed Fair Share Amendment revenues going towards education and transportation will definitely be part and parcel to keeping it that way.” 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 Should millionaires be taxed at a higher rate? Massachusetts voters to decide this fall Elizabeth Hopkins | Boston 25 News Jul 18, 2022 Many Massachusetts taxpayers might be in line for a tax cut as legislators think about how to handle a large revenue surplus. One group of taxpayers might still be on the hook for hike, however. This fall, voters will determine whether people who make more than a million dollars should be taxed at a higher rate. It’s a proposed tax hike that elicits two very different perspectives. “We’re an incredibly wealthy commonwealth, but that wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few,” said Jaron Mariani, campaign manager for Fair Share for Massachusetts, the group sponsoring the amendment “Folks are having a difficult time, they don’t need to be taxed more right now,” rebutted Dan Cence, spokesperson for Coalition to Stop the Tax Hike Amendment. Voters will be asked to vote on a constitutional amendment this fall that would continue to tax income up to one million dollars at 5% while adding a levy of 4% on anything more than that. The funds generated, possibly up to $2 billion, would be earmarked for education and transportation. Mariani said, “It’s 99.6% of us that don’t take home a million dollars in income. It’s only .4% of the commonwealth that takes home over a million dollars in income.” He dismisses the idea businesses will flee the state if the so-called “Millionaire’s Tax” passes in November. “For businesses, what’s attractive is a highly educated workforce and a reliable transit system that gets people to and from your business, and your employees home from your business.” Cence countered “that what happened was you get unintended consequences when things are crafted a certain way, and we have that here.” He says a home seller reaping a large windfall, or a small business owner, could get caught paying the sur-tax. He believes this amendment also reinforces the negative impression that we live in “Taxachusetts.” “We feel that many people move to New Hampshire, redomicile, and move to other locations and stop the economic impact and economic growth here in Massachusetts. Without question that will happen every single year.” Powerful groups are already lining up on both sides of this issue. For example, the Massachusetts Teachers Association is backing the amendment while the Massachusetts High Technology Council is opposing it. Previous Next

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< 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

< Back Public Health Organizations Endorse Question 1 to Improve Transportation and Public Education Jul 25, 2022 Healthcare, Public Health Advocates 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 seven public health organizations from across the state. The Fair Share Amendment is Question 1 on the November statewide ballot. “Our coalition works to promote youth health, well-being, and health equity in our region, and nothing could be more important to those priorities than strong, well-funded public schools!” said Kat Allen, Coalition Coordinator for the Communities that Care Coalition of Franklin County and North Quabbin . “Question 1, the Fair Share Amendment, would be an absolute game-changer for public education in Massachusetts for years to come.” The seven public health organizations collectively represent hundreds of healthcare workers, public health advocates and community leaders from across Massachusetts, and include statewide organizations as well as local groups from Allston-Brighton, Franklin County, Greater Lowell, and Greater Worcester. “Passing the Fair Share Amendment will improve public health and racial justice across the Commonwealth,” said Carlene Pavlos, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association . “Public transit is a lifeline to jobs, education, healthy food, and medical care. By improving quality and accessibility to public transit services, Question 1 will improve access to these key drivers of health and health equity, while also improving air quality and reducing climate emissions.“ “The Allston Brighton Health Collaborative endorses the Fair Share Amendment, which is an opportunity for those who have benefited most from our transportation and education systems to equitably contribute to those systems,” said Anna Leslie, MPH, Director of the Allston Brighton Health Collaborative . “No matter your wealth, you benefit from the roads that get you where you need to go and the education that taught you and your friends and family. Question 1 is an opportunity to give back to those systems. Supporting and improving public health improves individual health; a rising tide lifts all boats. The Fair Share Amendment will help lift all of us!” The public health organizations join more than 215 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 , and 15 faith-based groups . 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 public health organizations is below, and a full list of organizations that have endorsed Question 1 is available at fairsharema.com/endorsements . Allston Brighton Health Collaborative Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester (CHNA-8) Greater Lowell Health Alliance Health Resources in Action Massachusetts Coalition for Health Equity Massachusetts Public Health Association The Communities That Care Coalition of Franklin County and the North Quabbin 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, 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

On November 8, 2022, Massachusetts voters passed Question 1: the Fair Share Amendment. We chose a fairer tax system, guaranteeing that the richest one percent will pay more to fund our public schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and public transit. Since then, those making more than $1 million/year have paid more than $6.2 billion in Fair Share taxes. The other 99% of us haven't paid a penny more. Now, Fair Share is at work, already funding more than $6 billion in transportation and public education investments—with much more to come. Here's how the first $6 billion of Fair Share funding is being spent: Public Schools $782 million in direct aid to local school districts across Massachusetts $419 million to give every child free school meals, saving families hundreds of dollars a year for MBTA infrastructure and operations, including repairs, maintenance, and improvements $866.8 million Public Transportation for regional transit authorities, including expanded service hours, route expansions, and making fares free $422 million Public Colleges and Universities $289 million for financial aid to students at public colleges $287.5 million for tuition-free community college $208 million for public college campuses, buildings and infrastructure Roads and Bridges $298.5 million for the construction and repair of roads and bridges across the state Early Education and Care $1 billion to expand access to high-quality childcare and pre-K to more children and families Want to get involved? Help us spread the word that the Fair Share Amendment is funding the schools, roads, and transit we all rely on.

< Back Transportation Advocacy Organizations Endorse Question 1 to Improve Transportation and Public Education Aug 8, 2022 Transportation Advocates Join Growing Coalition Supporting Fair Share Amendment Tax on Million-Dollar Earners on November Ballot For Immediate Release August 8, 2022 Contact: Andrew Farnitano, 925-917-1354, andrew@crawfordstrategies.com Transportation Advocacy Organizations Endorse Question 1 to Improve Transportation and Public Education Transportation Advocates 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 ten transportation advocacy organizations from across the state. The Fair Share Amendment is Question 1 on the November statewide ballot. “The Transportation for Massachusetts coalition endorses Question 1 to support equitable, sustainable revenue for urgently needed investments in transportation,” said Josh Ostroff, Interim Director of Transportation for Massachusetts . “Across the Commonwealth, our roads, bridges, public transit, and biking and walking infrastructure are outdated and unreliable, while transportation remains the largest source of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to high asthma rates and poor health outcomes. Outdated roads and bridges are in a state of disrepair, causing damage to our vehicles, and putting cyclists and pedestrians at risk, while our public transit systems need billions of dollars of investment to achieve a state of good repair, to make transit stations accessible to people with disabilities, and to expand regional bus service for riders who rely on transit.” “These are problems we can solve,” Ostroff continued. “In November, Massachusetts voters have the opportunity to say yes to cleaner, safer and more equitable transportation with the Fair Share Amendment.” The ten transportation organizations collectively represent thousands of transportation advocates from across Massachusetts. “LivableStreets is excited to endorse the Fair Share Amendment on the 2022 ballot," said Catherine Gleason, the Public Policy Manager at LivableStreets Alliance . “If approved, this Amendment would provide critical funds for the State to invest into much needed improvements for our public transportation system—benefitting not only the MBTA, but transit systems across Massachusetts.” “Across the commonwealth, from the Berkshires to the Outer Cape, our roads, bridges, sidewalks, transit, and bike lanes are badly in need of repair and improvements. It’s 2022, more than two decades into the 21st century, and we are still living with 1960s-era infrastructure,” said Galen Mook, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) . “If we defer investing in our transportation networks, every single resident will feel the impacts of a neglected system. Question 1 will make sure the funding to improve our transportation infrastructure is provided, and comes from those who can shoulder the burden by paying their fair share.” “In our work in neighborhoods across Massachusetts, we often see sidewalks that need to be fixed, crosswalks that need to be re-striped, and roads that simply need to be narrower to calm speeding traffic,” said Stacey Beuttell, Executive Director of WalkBoston . “These short-term, low cost projects are critical to make walking safer and more enjoyable in communities of all sizes. We support Question 1 to ensure that walkability improvements are given a much needed, steady funding source.” “When you're on a bike, you feel every single pothole in your bones. Cyclists know firsthand that our streets need major repairs, and Question 1 is a huge opportunity to fix roads and bridges across the state,” said Becca Wolfson, Executive Director of the Boston Cyclists Union . “And, there are tens of thousands of people across Massachusetts who might try biking as opposed to driving, which would help address our dual climate and congestion crises, but don't feel safe without dedicated infrastructure. The Fair Share Amendment will mean more funding to repave our streets and paths, and more opportunities to rebuild our roads with high-quality protected bike infrastructure that makes cyclists, drivers, and pedestrians safer.” “The Fair Share Amendment would provide the state with funds we desperately need to repair our closed bridges and roads, reviving our connections and our communities,” said Anne Miller, Cofounder of Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop. “Everywhere Arlington Livable Streets supports the Fair Share Amendment because we see it as a terrific way to raise money for the MBTA and sustainable transportation projects from state residents who can afford to put a few hundred dollars more into a transportation system that until recently has been too heavily weighted towards roads and highways,” said Phil Goff, co-chair of Everywhere Arlington Livable Streets . The transportation 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 , and 7 environmental and climate 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. “For too long, riders dependent on public transit paid a disproportionate share of their income to maintain our transit systems,” said Staci Rubin, Vice President of Environmental Justice at Conservation Law Foundation , one of the environmental groups that endorsed Question 1 last week. “Yet these riders have not benefited from the investments we need to create a safe, accessible, and affordable transit system. It’s time for people of means to pay what’s fair to support our transportation and education systems.” The full list of endorsing transportation advocacy organizations is below, and a full list of organizations that have endorsed Question 1 is available at fairsharema.com/endorsements. Boston Cyclists Union Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop Everywhere Arlington Livable Streets Institute for Transportation & Development Policy LivableStreets Alliance Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike) Public Transit Public Good Coalition TransitMatters Transportation For Massachusetts WalkBoston 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 63 Community Organizing Groups from Across Massachusetts Endorse Fair Share Amendment to Invest in Transportation and Public Education Jun 27, 2022 BOSTON – Fair Share for Massachusetts, 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 63 community organizing groups from across the state. BOSTON – Fair Share for Massachusetts, 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 63 community organizing groups from across the state. “As a parent, I want my daughter to have great public schools and a well-rounded education. As a Quincy resident, I see how crumbling roads and the underfunded MBTA are creating unnecessary challenges for my neighbors. And as a community advocate, I've talked to so many people throughout Massachusetts who are struggling to get by, while the super rich get even richer,” said Lily Huang, Co-Director of Mass. Jobs with Justice . “The Fair Share Amendment will help improve our schools, colleges, roads, bridges, and transit, and only the very rich will pay more. Massachusetts communities desperately need a steady investment in this vital infrastructure so that families can live and work – not just surviving day by day, but flourishing as we invest in ourselves.” The 63 community organizing groups include statewide organizations focused on economic opportunity, immigrant rights, and racial justice; regional community groups covering Franklin County, the Merrimack Valley, the Mystic Valley, the South Shore, the Upper Cape, and Western Mass; and local community groups from cities and towns including Acton, Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, Cambridge, Concord, Dedham, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Needham, Northampton, Norwood, Watertown, Westford, Westwood, and Woburn. “The Massachusetts economy is working great for those at the top, but in the South Coast, working people are really struggling. Our region constantly gets the short end of the stick, while the rich just keep getting richer,” said Dax Crocker, a Program Coordinator for the Coalition for Social Justice . “With the Fair Share Amendment, 99% of us won't pay more, and we'll all benefit from fewer potholes on our roads, more resources for our public schools, better bus service in our communities, and lower tuitions at our public colleges. That's a win-win for the South Coast, and a win-win for Massachusetts.” “When we table for the Fair Share Amendment in Dedham, Westwood, and Norwood, we're delighted by the nearly unanimous support for the proposed tax on multi-millionaires to fund transportation and public education," said Leslie Greffenius, a member of the Steering Committee for Neponset Valley Progressives . "People in our neighborhoods are excited that the Fair Share Amendment's passage will raise the funds we need to equalize educational opportunities and repair and electrify our public transportation infrastructure.” “Passing the Fair Share Amendment would make a meaningful step toward racial equity in our community by directly supporting the families who need it the most,” said Natalia Restrepo, Civic Engagement Coordinator for La Colaborativa and a mother of 2 from Chelsea . “This amendment will not only have a direct impact on the wellbeing of our community today, but will pay dividends for years to come by giving our families the tools and support they need to make meaningful progress in their lives. From the roads that bring our families to work to the schools that nurture our children, the Fair Share Amendment offers an immediate opportunity to build the capacity of the Chelsea community to continue to grow and thrive.” “I am delighted the SJC saw through the plaintiffs' flimsy argument and removed the last roadblock to putting this important measure on the ballot. It's been a long time coming!,” said Jeanne Kempthorne, chair of the Berkshires Fair Share Committee and member of the leadership of Progressive Democrats of Massachusetts . “Cities and towns from Williamstown to Lee in the Berkshires have endorsed the Fair Share Amendment because voters know how much we need this funding to improve public education, repair roads and bridges, and make sustained investments in public transit. And they know that in a commonwealth, those that have more should contribute more.” “Mass-Care: the Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care supports the Fair Share for Massachusetts campaign’s historic thrust to make multimillionaires pay taxes at a higher rate for education and transportation,” said Jon Weissman, Co-Chair of Mass-Care . “The people are the source of those multimillions and the people should share in them.” “Progressive WROX/ROZ is a proud supporter of the Fair Share Amendment,” said Nina Lev of Progressive WROX/ROZ . “We have been talking to our neighbors at the farmers' market and other community events and finding widespread support for this plan to use taxes from those who have done extremely well in the current economy to fund education and transportation. Both are in need of funding and contribute greatly to the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents.” The community organizing groups join more than 215 organizations and thousands of activists across the state who are working together to win the Fair Share Amendment 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. The full list of endorsing community organizing groups is below, and a full list of all the organizations that have endorsed the Fair Share Amendment is available at fairsharema.com/endorsements . Previous Next

< Back WAMC: Springfield City Council endorses Massachusetts ballot question on 'millionaire's tax' WAMC Northeast Public Radio Apr 7, 2022 The City Council in Springfield, Massachusetts has endorsed the so-called Fair Share Amendment that will be on the state election ballot this year. Resolution backing Fair Share Amendment passes unanimously The City Council in Springfield, Massachusetts has endorsed the so-called Fair Share Amendment that will be on the state election ballot this year. The vote puts the Councilors at odds with the local business community. The Springfield City Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution supporting the question on the ballot that if approved by voters in November would amend the state constitution to add a 4 percent surtax on income that exceeds $1 million. City Councilor Jesse Lederman introduced the resolution. Urging his colleagues to support it, he said the additional tax money that would be collected by the state could be used to lower the costs to attend a four-year public college, improve road safety, build east-west passenger rail, and more. “These investments will take resources and we know working families are already being asked to pay too much and receive too little in return,” Lederman said. He said cities like Springfield have been short-changed when it comes to state spending on public resources. “At the same time, millionaires and billionaires continue to benefit from these same resources while enjoying record profits from our labor and expenses,” Lederman said. “It is time to balance the scales in the Commonwealth and ensure the wealthiest among us pay their fair share toward investing in the public resources that are foundational to the success of our communities.” The proposed amendment is the work of a coalition of labor unions, faith-based organizations and social-justice advocates that has campaigned for almost eight years to get it on the ballot. Business groups, for the most part, have lined up against it. A spokesperson for the campaign said five city councils and five school committees have passed resolutions of support with more in the works. The Pittsfield City Council voted last month to endorse it. Proponents tout the additional money as a boon for education and transportation. Opponents say the pitch is disingenuous because it is ultimately up to the state legislature to decide how tax revenue gets spent. In 2015, the Massachusetts Department of Revenue estimated the surtax would bring in an additional $2 billion annually. The proposed amendment includes an annual adjustment for inflation. During the public comment time at Monday’s City Council meeting, Jacqueline Velez, a mother of two and an organizer with Massachusetts Jobs with Justice, urged support for the resolution. “College could be a lot more affordable to my daughter, who recently made it to The National Honor Society and wants to pursue a four-year degree,” Valez said. “As a single mom, you can imagine how hard that is.” City Councilor Kateri Walsh said she supported the resolution because she was moved by what she heard during the public speak-out. “New revenues that would come in would improve the quality of life for so many people who work hard for the city of Springfield and don’t often get a return on what they do,” Walsh said. The Springfield Regional Chamber is among the business associations opposed to the ballot question. Chamber President Nancy Creed said it is bad public policy. “We want to make sure that does not pass,” Creed said. “To change the constitution is not how to change tax policy.” Past efforts to amend the state constitution to introduce a graduated income tax to Massachusetts have met with resounding defeat. Public opinion polls have shown strong support for this current initiative. Previous Next

< Back Yes on 1 Campaign Responds to New Poll Showing Voters Demand Investments in Transportation Infrastructure Oct 20, 2022 2nd Poll This Week Showing Strong Support for Question 1 Among Voters BOSTON – Supporters of 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, today responded to a new poll showing strong support from voters for investments in the state’s transportation infrastructure. The poll of 987 likely voters in the November general election, conducted by the MassINC Polling Group, found that 66 percent of voters think improving the condition of highways, roads, and bridges should be a top priority for the next Governor, while 59 percent think improving existing public transportation like trains, subways, and buses should be a top priority. “Massachusetts voters are demanding improvements to our roads, bridges, and public transportation, and Question 1 provides a clear way to pay for them,’ said Fair Share for Massachusetts Campaign Manager Jeron Mariani. “There’s no shortage of need for investment in our state’s transportation infrastructure. We need to fix potholes on our local roads, repair the state’s 644 structurally deficient bridges, and upgrade MBTA trains, tracks, and stations.” The poll also found that 78 percent of voters rate the condition of transportation in Massachusetts either fair or poor, while only 21 percent rate it good or excellent. The MassINC Polling Group poll measured support for Question 1 among voters, and found 59 percent support for Question 1, compared to 31 percent opposition. On Tuesday, a Suffolk University/Boston Globe/NBC10 Boston/Telemundo poll of Massachusetts voters found 58 percent support for Question 1, compared to 37 percent opposition. “Voters are supporting Question 1 because they recognize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve our schools and fix our transportation infrastructure,” said Mariani. “Question 1 will generate $2 billion a year to invest in transportation and public education, and only the very rich who make more than $1 million a year will pay more.” A recent Yes on Question 1 ad, titled ‘ Crews ,’ featured Jimmy Marenghi, an operating engineer and member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4, explaining how “Too many of our roads and bridges are downright dangerous to drive on. Question 1 brings in $2 billion a year so we can repair them.” An August report from the Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center found that Massachusetts has 644 structurally deficient bridges, and that 1 in 9 bridge crossings in the state occur on a structurally deficient bridge. Only 25% of the state’s bridges are graded in ‘good’ condition. And according to the American Society of Civil Engineers, 25% of Massachusetts’ roads are in poor condition, and the average driver pays $620 per year in extra costs caused by driving on our substandard roadways. 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 Question 1 Supporters Respond to New Report on Massachusetts’ 644 Structurally Deficient Bridges Andrew Farnitano Aug 31, 2022 Fair Share Amendment Campaign Calls for Greater Investment in Crumbling Bridges With Passage of Question 1 on November Ballot Bridges Across Massachusetts – A new report from the Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center finds that Massachusetts has 644 structurally deficient bridges, and that 1 in 9 bridge crossings in the state occur on a structurally deficient bridge. Supporters of the ‘Yes on 1’ 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, responded to the report during a virtual press conference earlier today, with speakers calling in from structurally deficient bridges across the state. The Fair Share Amendment is Question 1 on the November statewide ballot. “Bridges that are closed curtail the community’s accessibility, and it really harms our ability to grow our economy,” said Kathy Lynch, owner of the Montague Village Store , who spoke next to the structurally deficient Centre Street Bridge in Montague, which was recently closed after several years of being reduced to one lane with weight restrictions. “Now we have one access way into town, which makes travel and local tourism very difficult. We can’t sustain our community without additional funding for infrastructure. If I am ever fortunate enough to make over a million dollars a year, I will be more than happy to kick in my fair share.” During the virtual press conference, campaign supporters called for greater investment in the Commonwealth’s crumbling and structurally deficient bridges, and for passage of Question 1 in November to invest in roads, bridges, and public education. “Our crumbling infrastructure is dangerous, and it’s hurting our economy,” said Collique Williams, Organizer, Community Labor United , who spoke from the structurally deficient River Street Bridge in Boston, which was shut down to vehicles in May after bridge inspectors identified beam deterioration. “This bridge is an important part of this community. In the 30-plus years I’ve lived here, I’ve probably gone over this bridge over ten thousand times, going to and from school, or taking my nephew to school on my way to work. By passing Question 1 in November, we’ll have the ability to repair our crumbling bridges by making the very rich pay their fair share.” “Repairing bridges is an investment in people, in middle-class jobs, and also an investment in business, because businesses can’t invest in our communities if they can’t get their products, their supplies, and their people back and forth safely to work,” said Charlie Payne, Business Representative for Carpenters Union Local 336 , who spoke from the structurally deficient St. James Ave. bridge in Springfield. “If this bridge collapsed right here, right now, or was deemed unserviceable, businesses on both sides of the bridge would suffer or go out of business. We can’t afford to let that happen.” “In the city of Worcester, we are considered a melting pot. However, with the potholes in the ground, there’s no way to sustain us,” said Worcester parent Nelly Medina , who spoke from underneath the structurally deficient 1-290 bridge over East Central Street in Worcester. “It’s really sad to see a bridge held up by pieces of wood. As a mom, I know that Question 1 needs to pass so we can get on with living our lives and fix this crumbling bridge behind us.” “In Great Barrington, we have seven bridges on the Housatonic River — every one of them was found to be structurally deficient or functionally obsolete,” said Great Barrington resident Michael Wise , who spoke next to the structurally deficient Cottage Street Bridge in Great Barrington, which has been closed to automobile traffic since December 2019. “We really could use the money from the Fair Share Amendment.” Transportation experts emphasized that Question 1 is needed to fund additional bridge repair and replacement work throughout Massachusetts, and that if we don’t address our crumbling bridges now, they’ll only hold back our economy and become more dangerous, and more expensive to repair, in the future. “Bridges that are in disrepair are more likely to become closed or to prohibit heavy vehicles from crossing them. They pose a greater danger and become more costly in the future,” said Phineas Baxandall, Senior Analyst & Advocacy Director, Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center and co-author of the new report. “On average, every day in Massachusetts, 14.3 million crossings take place across structurally deficient bridges. That’s 165 vehicles every second. Without additional investment, conditions will deteriorate in the coming years.” “Massachusetts bridges are in desperate need of increased investment to improve roadway safety, resiliency of our infrastructure to address climate change, improve equity for historically disadvantaged communities, and improve the economic viability of the Commonwealth,” said Pete Wilson, Senior Advisor, Transportation for Massachusetts . “The Fair Share Amendment will provide additional resources dedicated to transportation for long-term, responsible, sustainable funding to improve the Commonwealth’s bridges, and only people who earn more than a million dollars a year will pay more.” 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