Governor Charlie Baker is proposing using the state budget surplus to make the entire months of August and September sales tax free. Baker says state revenues are currently running nearly 15-percent higher than expected, making the tax free months affordable. He says the two-month sales tax holiday would provide a boost to state taxpayers and Main Street economies as the virus recovery continues. The state currently just has the weekend of August 14th and 15th designated as tax free.
The head of the Retail Association in Massachusetts Jon Hurst among supporters of the measure. He says it would help retailers and consumers and help recover some of the money lost during the pandemic.
But Longmeadow State Senator Eric Lesser is opposed to the measure. He says there is a better way to spend the 900 million dollars needed to cover the proposal.
"This proposal would cost $900 million and do almost nothing to help our local retailers. Now that COVID is ending, demand is at record levels. Our local businesses need more workers and better infrastructure, not political gimmicks. Extra funds should be used to reduce class sizes, repair crumbling roads and bridges, improve broadband internet, or use to pay down debt.”
Legislative approval is needed.
(Photo Credit: John Baibak/WHYN News)