(In addition to the telecom loophole (finally!!), the Senate also seems to have made progress on municipalities joining the GIC for their health care needs. This is from a summary released by the Senate President's office:
1. Secretary for Administration and Finance formulates an average cost GIC "benchmark" for cities and towns;
2. If a town's health insurance costs are under the GIC benchmark, no change in health insurance is required for that municipality;
3. If a town's health insurance costs are above the GIC benchmark, the municipality will either negotiate a new plan below benchmark or join the GIC;
4. If no agreement is reached, an arbiter has 60 days to issue a judgment by which unions are required to comply;
5. Town management can reject the judgment on a two-thirds vote but be penalized their local aid amount that would have been saved by joining GIC.
Thoughts? - promoted by David)
SENATE CLAIMS NEW POLES AND WIRES TAX ON TELECOM WILL GENERATE $26 MIL.
While the Lege is beating up on Governor Patrick, they did manage to take a long overdue step to act on one of his early proposals. Thank you.
SENATE CLAIMS NEW POLES AND WIRES TAX ON TELECOM WILL GENERATE $26 MIL
One tax increase that cleared the Senate Tuesday night but which received little attention as it was overshadowed by larger increases and buried in a bigger amendment would eliminate a property tax exemption on poles and wires located on public property and rights of way. The telecommunications industry has long resisted the lifting of the exemption. A summary of the "municipal relief" amendment provided by Senate President Therese Murray's office estimates that change will generate $26 million in new municipal tax revenue. The Senate tax package approved Tuesday would also impose a $26 million tax by extending the sales tax to satellite subscription services, which would "achieve parity between cable companies and satellite providers," according to a Senate summary of the legislation, which must be reconciled in talks with the House.
