78% of people leaving list “Job,” “Family,” or “Retirement” as Reasons
The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance made the following statement today regarding the United Van Lines releasing their organization’s 45th Annual National Movers Study on Monday. According to the group’s report, Massachusetts is the 7th highest state in the country for emigration. In 2020, Massachusetts was slightly better at 8th. The report lists the states for both inbound and outbound migration. According to the report 78% of the people leaving Massachusetts list their “job (31%),” “family (25%),” or “retirement (22%),” as reasons for fleeing. The study also shows that more people are leaving between the ages of 35 to 65 years old and those with incomes between $50,000 to $75,0000 and $100,000 to $150,000. These data points suggest that the middle class are moving out of Massachusetts. A copy of the report may be found at https://www.unitedvanlines.com/newsroom/movers-study-2021.
Massachusetts lawmakers have a ballot question before the voters this November, which would allow lawmakers to change the state constitution to eliminate the equal taxation clause. If passed, Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka’s ballot question would allow them to raise the income tax rate for certain earners by 80% and open the door to further incomes tax rate increases to other tax brackets.
“As Speaker Ron Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka try to sell their gimmicky ballot question that would allow lawmakers to raise the income tax by 80% for many, it's worth pointing out that Massachusetts taxpayers are already voting with their feet by fleeing the state. Taxpayers and businesses show their displeasure through moving and this report is another clear example of this,” stated Paul Diego Craney, spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.
“Whenever Massachusetts is ranked in the bottom 10 and continues to decline, State House leaders should be worried. As they continue to pile on new and higher taxes, regulations, and schemes, it will only make things worse,” continued Craney.
“To compound the problem in Massachusetts, inflation is at a 40 year high. Many residents are receiving their monthly heating bills for December. They could see the highest prices in a generation for keeping their families warm this winter. Then next fall, the political elites will push a gimmicky ballot question to raise their income taxes. Higher inflation, and higher taxes contribute to why more people are leaving than coming to Massachusetts and for our state’s political elites, they don’t seem to care,” concluded Craney.