As the deadline arrives for filing initiative petitions for the 2026 statewide ballot, the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance is commending three newly filed proposals that would restore fiscal sanity, protect taxpayers, and bring long-overdue transparency to Beacon Hill.

The three proposed questions, rolling back the personal income tax to 4%, strengthening the 62F tax cap law, and extending the public records law to the Legislature and Governor, would give Massachusetts voters a powerful opportunity to take back control from a political class that has grown increasingly out of touch.

“These ballot questions go straight to the heart of what’s broken in Massachusetts. We’re talking about lower taxes, stronger taxpayer protections, and finally shining a light on the most secretive legislature in the country. Every voter, regardless of party, should support these efforts,” said Paul D. Craney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.

“Rolling back the income tax to 4% would mean everyone gets a pay raise. It’s really that simple. If you’re earning $50,000 a year, you just got a $500 raise. Families and businesses are being squeezed by high costs, and Beacon Hill has shown no interest in giving taxpayers a break. Quite the opposite, in fact. This question delivers broad based tax relief and sends a clear message that voters are ready to rein in the Beacon Hill spending machine,” said Craney.

“Fixing the 62F Tax Cap Loophole is a no-brainer. Voters wanted guardrails on runaway spending, with automatic rebates to taxpayers triggered when the state collects too much, and that’s exactly what makes the 62F law so popular. Due to loopholes and exclusions, especially the carveout for new surtax revenues, the law has only been triggered twice in 40 years. Beacon Hill always finds ways around the law as it’s currently written. This fix closes the loopholes and restores the taxpayer protections voters overwhelmingly approved,” stated Craney.

“Massachusetts is the only state in the country where all three branches of government—the Legislature, Governor, and Judiciary— are all exempt from the public records law. Beacon Hill leaders have operated in the shadows for too long.  They exempt themselves from transparency laws and hide their decision-making from the public. They refuse to comply with the overwhelming approved audit of the legislature ballot question law. This ballot question forces Beacon Hill to disclose what they are hiding from the audit law,” noted Craney.

The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance commends the petitioners and allied organizations advancing these reforms. Ann Sullivan, the Chairman, and Paul Craney, the Executive Director, of Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, are among the original signers for the two taxpayer friendly ballot questions. Also among the signers is Pauline Zywaski, an original board member and Treasurer of Citizens for Limited Taxation (CLT). CLT was the organization that successfully passed the state income reduction to 5 percent in 2000 when former Governor Michael Dukakis temporarily raised the state income tax to 5.75 percent in 1989. Gov. Dukakis’ temporary tax hike lasted 11 years and it took another 20 years for the state income tax to be brought down to 5% in 2020 as mandated by the 2000 ballot question.

“These questions are a direct response to what we hear every day from people across the state. They’re tired of paying more, getting less, and being shut out of the process. These ballot questions give them a way to push back and we will do everything in our power to ensure these ideas become law and are followed,” closed Craney.