Sighting:
Mass. Tax Revenue Was $9.37 Billion in 1990

April 7, 2003
MassNews Staff

The state's tax revenue went from $9.37 billion in 1990 to $17.23 billion in 2001, according to Cato, the libertarian think tank, and Jeff Jacoby, columnist at the Globe.

This was an increase of 84% even though only 44% of that increase was necessary to keep pace with inflation and population growth. The remainder -- $3.76 billion or $1509 a year for every household in the state -- was a windfall for the state, says Jacoby. He comments that, "'Tax everything and more' was lousy advice in the 1990s. It's an even worse prescription today."