The Fair Share Amendment
The Fair Share Amendment is a proposal to amend the Massachusetts Constitution, creating an additional tax of four percentage points on the portion of a person’s annual income above $1 million. The new revenue, approximately $2 billion a year, would be spent on “quality public education and affordable public colleges and universities, and for the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and public transportation.”
For years, the highest-income households in Massachusetts – those in the top 1 percent – have paid a smaller share of their income in state and local taxes than any other income group.
Question 1, the Fair Share Amendment, would create a 4% 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.
With Question 1, the top 1% of Massachusetts residents — those making over $1 million a year — would pay their fair share in taxes. 99% of us won’t pay a penny more!
Why Fair Share?
With $2 billion a year, we can:
End the educator and counselor shortages in our schools
Ensure all educators are paid the livable wages they deserve
Give students, educators, and schools the resources they need
Fix our crumbling bridges and pothole-filled roads
Provide safe, reliable, and affordable public trains and buses statewide
Ensure no one has to take on debt to get a college or vocational education.
The Fair Share Amendment will require those making more than $1 million in a single year to pay their fair share in taxes—just 4¢ more on each dollar after their first million dollars a year. No one who makes under $1 million a year will pay a cent more.
“QUESTION 1 ON THE BALLOT!”
