Planned Toll Hike Eliminated
Patrick Set To Sign State Budget That Includes Sales Tax Hike
POSTED: 10:29 am EDT June 29,
2009
UPDATED: 10:41 am EDT June 29,
2009
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BOSTON -- The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority has eliminated a planned toll hike hours before Gov. Deval Patrick was set to sign a state budget that includes a 25 percent hike in the state sales tax. The Turnpike board met Monday morning and voted to eliminate the toll hike that was set to take effect July 1. Patrick is scheduled to sign the $27.4 billion spending plan Monday afternoon in his Statehouse office. The budget makes steep cuts to service and slashes aid to cities and towns. It also includes the biggest broad-based tax increase in two decades -- a measure that would increase the state sales tax from 5 percent to 6.25 percent. The tax hike will also help the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority close a $160 million budget gap.
Copyright 2009 by TheBostonChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
