Massachusetts Question 5: State revenue limit and taxpayer refunds
Massachusetts · Statutory initiative · Taxes · Statewide decision
Explanation reviewed 2026-10-27. AI-written and checked against linked official evidence; not an election-office summary.
AI-written summary
Would instead start with actual net revenue collected the previous year and adjust it by average Massachusetts wage and salary growth over three years. It would include the high-income surtax in the calculation and refund revenue above the resulting limit the next year.
What applies now
Chapter 62F already limits state revenue using a prior-limit formula tied to wage growth. Surtax revenue on incomes above $1 million is excluded from that calculation.
If yes / for
Adopt the revised revenue ceiling and refund calculation.
If no / against
Keep the existing Chapter 62F formula.
Costs and funding
The official fiscal statement expects less revenue available for state budgets, local aid and reserves. Refund frequency would depend on future economic conditions; it gives no fixed dollar estimate.
Timing
July 1, 2027.
Passage rule
Yes votes must be a majority of votes on the question and equal at least 30% of all ballots cast in the state election.
The latest automated source check failed. This remains the previously reviewed explanation.
Source notes
- This is not the separate income-tax-rate reduction proposal, which is absent from the final nine-question roster.