SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

Region

Discussion

The Salem News has a real-name policy for commenting. Users may sign in using the Facebook Connect tool above the comments field. Once your first comment is posted by a moderator, all future comments will post automatically. If you prefer not to use Facebook, send an e-mail with your comments user name (which must be the same as your real name), city or town, street address and daytime phone number to comments@salemnews.com. A staff member will contact you directly to confirm your identity. It may take a day or two before you can post comments. Only your user name will be public. All users are required to follow our rules for commenting, which can be found here.

comments powered by Disqus
March 20, 2012

State panel urges fewer Mass. tax breaks

Associated Press

BOSTON — A task force of elected officials and policy makers says Massachusetts needs to overhaul its tax system to eliminate breaks that cost the state billions of dollars.

The Tax Expenditure Commission plans to call on Gov. Deval Patrick and the Legislature to reduce the number and amount of tax exemptions the state allows.

The Boston Globe reports that commission members have not finalized the details, but several said the report probably would not identify specific tax breaks to be eliminated, leaving that for lawmakers.

The Department of Revenue recently found that Massachusetts has roughly 200 tax credits, deductions and exemptions that cost the state more than $26 billion in revenue a year.

Supporters of tax breaks argue they can attract businesses, encourage expansion, and create jobs.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News

Local News
  • Friendship of Salem 1 Preserving a Friendship

    SALEM — A series of repairs to the Friendship will be completed this month, but National Park Service staff say work on the three-masted ship will stretch to infinity.

    May 20, 2013 4 Photos

  • Cummings to build on Dunham Road site BEVERLY -- Cummings Properties is planning to build a five-story office building on Dunham Road in what would be the company's first development on the 54 acres of land it purchased in 2011. The building would go up next to the only building currentl

    May 20, 2013

  • 130519_SN_KYU_STJOHNS_4 A day of pasts, presents and futures

    As the 300 members of St. John's Prep's Class of 2013 paraded into the tent for graduation yesterday, the past was walking in front of them. Literally, that's because members of the class of 1963 -- wearing straw hats rather than mortarboards -- were

    May 20, 2013 2 Photos

  • Trial to begin in case of Salem woman injured in T crash SALEM -- This month is the four-year anniversary of the MBTA trolley accident caused by a distracted subway driver who texted his girlfriend right before the crash. An estimated 50 riders went to the hospital on May 8, 2009, including Samantha Matte

    May 20, 2013

  • 130516_SN_DLE_LANGLAIS2 New Danvers selectman has worked her way up DANVERS -- For about 10 years, accountant Diane Langlais served on the Finance Committee, an important town body that gets little attention as it oversees the town budget, warrant articles and capital improvement plans that go before Town Meeting. Bu

    May 20, 2013 2 Photos