By Chris Cassidy
Voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to abolish the state income tax last night.
Statewide, Question 1 failed by a tally of about 70 percent to 30 percent.
Across the North Shore, the ballot initiative fell by close to 2-1 margins in Beverly, Danvers, Hamilton, Ipswich, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott.
Only voters in Manchester-by-the-Sea approved the measure by a mere 160 votes.
For Question 1 backers, it was an evening of disappointment.
"I really don't think they (voters) like things the way they are in Massachusetts," said Barbara Anderson, the executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation and a Question 1 supporter. "They seem to understand the scams and the corruption and the benefit packages. ... They just haven't found the nerve to do anything about it."
Dennis Corrigan of Boxford, a Question 1 supporter, said opponents of the initiative spent millions of dollars in a last-minute advertising blitz — something his side simply couldn't compete with.
"I think the spending was probably the key thing," Corrigan said.
At a busy polling location at the Marblehead Community Center during dinnertime last night, many voters said they feared abolishing the income tax would decimate essential state programs at a time when Massachusetts is already facing a more than $1 billion budget deficit. Last month, Gov. Deval Patrick announced major cuts to the state budget.
"I think it would cripple all the services in the state," said Richard Allen of Marblehead.
"I'm pretty nervous about a lot of cuts to state funding," said Jeremy Louisos of Marblehead. "The past couple weeks, we've had innumerable cuts that I haven't been in favor of."
Peter Hendrickson, an engineer from Boxford, said Question 1 doesn't meet economic realities.
"I think it would be a disaster," he said. "... Our country and state are so badly in debt. I hate to say it: We may need more taxes."
Others felt a vote to eliminate the income tax would send a message to Beacon Hill lawmakers that they're fed up with seeing their tax money wasted.
Leaving a polling location at Bentley School in Salem last night, Jacqueline Field-Swenbeck said she already pays enough taxes.
"I don't want the government — Beacon Hill — to handle any more of my tax dollars," Field-Swenbeck said. "I think they've done a disservice to Massachusetts citizens already."
But Kristen Strong of Salem said abolishing the income tax would have two effects — a drastic cut in state services and a dramatic rise in property tax bills.
"My feeling is if you don't want to pay property taxes," Strong said, "go to New Hampshire."
Staff writer Mike Stucka contributed to this story.
