Don't put a tax on candy, a left-leaning Massachusetts policy institute says..Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey included a provision that would subject candy to the state's 6.25 percent sales tax in her proposed $61.5 billion fiscal year 2026 budget earlier this year.However, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center strongly opposes the proposal.MassBudget president Viviana Abreu-Hernández told NewBostonPost via email that raising taxes on candy is exactly the opposite approach of what the Bay State should do to raise revenue.Here is what she wrote:"MassBudget stands for two things: taxes that are fair and sufficient. Sales taxes are typically the most regressive of the Commonwealth’s major taxes. In other words, they negatively impact lower income families. Taxing candy is a regressive tax, because poor people are going to have to pay more for candy than rich people based on the percentage of their income that goes into that tax. Regressive taxes, when lower-income people pay a larger share of their income toward a particular tax than higher-income people do, make our state tax system less fair and worsen economic and racial inequality. So while removing the current sales tax exemption from candy is estimated to bring $25 million annually in revenue for the state, it does so in a regressive way." MassBudget supports a different proposal it says would raise more revenue than a candy tax: removing the state sales tax exemption on aircraft and aircraft parts. "In our analysis, eliminating this handout to the ultra-wealthy — those who can afford to own personal aircraft like private jets and helicopters — would bring in $27.6 million in state revenue," Abreu-Hernandez said."That’s more revenue than taxing candy, and it asks the wealthiest in the state to contribute, not a kid buying a candy bar," she added.Opposing the proposed candy tax puts MassBudget on the same side as the right-leaning Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance on this issue.Mass Fiscal spokesman Paul Craney told NewBostonPost in January that he thinks this proposed tax increase is a terrible idea.“She’s literally taking candy from a baby. Massachusetts residents already face some of the highest taxes in the nation, and this proposal exacerbates that burden," Craney said in a statement emailed to NewBostonPost. "Taxpayers will have to spend $25 million more dollars on candy to just pay for this tax."“This budget doubles down on the state’s addiction to higher taxes and spending at a time when residents are already feeling squeezed and leaving for more tax friendly states," he added. "The Governor is taking a giant leap in the wrong direction."Healey defended the proposed tax increase in a January 2025 press conference, comparing it to the state sales tax on baked goods.“To be clear, this isn’t about a new tax," Healey told reporters. "What this is doing is to say when you go to the grocery store, instead of having candy treated like a purchase of bread and eggs and milk and essential groceries, that candy is now going to be treated in the same way as when you go to the bakery in the back of the grocery store and pick up cupcakes for your kids."However, the governor has also said she isn't heavily invested in the proposal."I didn't think this one was one that maybe people would feel the hurt on as much, but might help, you know? Might help, pay a little bit more for your candy," she told reporters on January 28, 2025. "Anyhow, it's an idea. I propose ideas in a budget. And we'll see what the Legislature does with all of this. But nobody likes taxes."Healey's office could not be reached for comment on Monday or Tuesday.
Don't put a tax on candy, a left-leaning Massachusetts policy institute says..Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey included a provision that would subject candy to the state's 6.25 percent sales tax in her proposed $61.5 billion fiscal year 2026 budget earlier this year.However, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center strongly opposes the proposal.MassBudget president Viviana Abreu-Hernández told NewBostonPost via email that raising taxes on candy is exactly the opposite approach of what the Bay State should do to raise revenue.Here is what she wrote:"MassBudget stands for two things: taxes that are fair and sufficient. Sales taxes are typically the most regressive of the Commonwealth’s major taxes. In other words, they negatively impact lower income families. Taxing candy is a regressive tax, because poor people are going to have to pay more for candy than rich people based on the percentage of their income that goes into that tax. Regressive taxes, when lower-income people pay a larger share of their income toward a particular tax than higher-income people do, make our state tax system less fair and worsen economic and racial inequality. So while removing the current sales tax exemption from candy is estimated to bring $25 million annually in revenue for the state, it does so in a regressive way." MassBudget supports a different proposal it says would raise more revenue than a candy tax: removing the state sales tax exemption on aircraft and aircraft parts. "In our analysis, eliminating this handout to the ultra-wealthy — those who can afford to own personal aircraft like private jets and helicopters — would bring in $27.6 million in state revenue," Abreu-Hernandez said."That’s more revenue than taxing candy, and it asks the wealthiest in the state to contribute, not a kid buying a candy bar," she added.Opposing the proposed candy tax puts MassBudget on the same side as the right-leaning Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance on this issue.Mass Fiscal spokesman Paul Craney told NewBostonPost in January that he thinks this proposed tax increase is a terrible idea.“She’s literally taking candy from a baby. Massachusetts residents already face some of the highest taxes in the nation, and this proposal exacerbates that burden," Craney said in a statement emailed to NewBostonPost. "Taxpayers will have to spend $25 million more dollars on candy to just pay for this tax."“This budget doubles down on the state’s addiction to higher taxes and spending at a time when residents are already feeling squeezed and leaving for more tax friendly states," he added. "The Governor is taking a giant leap in the wrong direction."Healey defended the proposed tax increase in a January 2025 press conference, comparing it to the state sales tax on baked goods.“To be clear, this isn’t about a new tax," Healey told reporters. "What this is doing is to say when you go to the grocery store, instead of having candy treated like a purchase of bread and eggs and milk and essential groceries, that candy is now going to be treated in the same way as when you go to the bakery in the back of the grocery store and pick up cupcakes for your kids."However, the governor has also said she isn't heavily invested in the proposal."I didn't think this one was one that maybe people would feel the hurt on as much, but might help, you know? Might help, pay a little bit more for your candy," she told reporters on January 28, 2025. "Anyhow, it's an idea. I propose ideas in a budget. And we'll see what the Legislature does with all of this. But nobody likes taxes."Healey's office could not be reached for comment on Monday or Tuesday.
