By Andrew Hunter
In June 2021, the Massachusetts Legislature’s Constitutional Convention endorsed the Fair Share Amendment (FSA), approving it for popular vote in the November 22 ballot. If voted in, the proposal will add an amendment to the Massachusetts state constitution, creating an additional tax of 4 percentage points on annual income over $1 million[1]. A tax increase of this nature will raise approximately $2 billion every year from Massachusetts’ wealthiest residents and provide resources for statewide public education, road and highway maintenance, and public transportation[2].
Public Education
Though widely considered to have exceptional public education, the reality of Massachusetts education is concealed behind-high test scores from high-income districts. Public education, though integral to the state’s success, remains unaffordable, inaccessible, and inadequate to many Massachusetts families.
Public colleges in Massachusetts are getting more expensive. In 2018, Massachusetts’ public college costs were rising faster than any other state in the nation[3]. From 2013 to 2018, costs rose 18 %, and since then they have risen another 18[4]. The average 2022 public college student is paying almost $4,000 more per year than they did just 9 years prior, forcing students to graduate with staggering debt. UMass Amherst and Bridgewater state students, respectively, graduate on average with $31,000 and $33,000 in debt. Recent bouts of inflation, coupled with annual interest prevent the average student from paying these loans with any ease whatsoever. Nearly 100,000 students and graduates, as of 2021, were unable to acquire transcripts for failure to meet the ever-increasing interest rates of their loans[5]. Put simply, Massachusetts residents cannot keep up with rising college prices.
Once in the public education system, furthermore, many students find decayed infrastructure, impossible class sizes, and outdated curriculum standards[6]. Early education institutions in particular are subject to poor spending and, most importantly, there exists vast disparities in funding region to region.
Underfunded early education centers restrict child development at its most crucial age. Large class sizes, underpaid teachers and spotty scheduling prevents Massachusetts children from getting the personalized early care and education (ECE) they need. The Fair Share Amendment will provide nearly 300,000 kids, especially those of color and from low-income families, with high-quality ECE - “strong curriculum and supportive teaching in classrooms, professional development, small class sizes, well-compensated teachers, and full-time schedules.”[7] These are features every child needs to build the communicative and intellectual skills required of elementary school. Phased over multiple years, the FSA will bring costs of ECE down to 7 percent of annual income, making productive ECE available to the entire state[8].
Of course, simple dollar injections show no long-term support towards the state’s most vulnerable communities, and pure education reform will fall short - if true change is to be made, it must exist both within and outside of the public education system. This is the point at which transportation infrastructure and public transportation improvements become necessary.
Transportation Infrastructure
Over the next ten years, Massachusett transportation infrastructure will experience an 8 billion dollar funding gap[9]. That is, every road, bridge, highway, and transit system will be underfunded for the next ten years if current stagnation persists. Studies suggest that much of Massachusetts transportation infrastructure is in critical condition: as of 2021, 462 bridges were deemed structurally deficient (travel restrictions necessary), more than 25% of non-interstate miles are or will soon be in ‘poor’ condition (cracking, rutting and raveling), and more than 8% of interstate miles are similarly endangered[10]. Overall, 22 % of Massachusetts miles require repair, as per the DOT[11]. Though improvements have been made since 2016, the Commonwealth simply has not prioritized the necessary funding to upgrade our crumbling transportation infrastructure.
Transportation access is an essential aspect of economic and racial justice, and one that is often overlooked. Transit-dependent riders are forced to rely on the inconsistencies and inaccessibility of Massachusetts buses and railways. For the successful integration of Massachusetts's different communities, individuals from every background must be able to learn and access economic opportunity where they want to.
The Fair Share Amendment will raise approximately $2 billion annually that can be invested in quality and affordable public education and transportation. Such an investment will create the financial room to support affordable public education at all levels and strengthen our transportation infrastructure. In accomplishing these goals, the FSA will have paved the way for integration, opening up doors to career and education for the state’s lowest-income families. This is an Amendment dedicated to the long term; both current and future generations deserve equality of transportation and education.
The FSA process is backed by 72 percent of Massachusetts citizens; if you want to help rebuild Massachusetts education and transportation, there is plenty to do: [14]
- Change requires collective action. Volunteer with Fair Share Massachusetts
- Sign the pledge to support the Fair Share Amendment along with 14,000 others. Share this pledge card with your friends and family and help foster public support.
Andrew Hunter is a Sierra Club volunteer, and 4th-semester student at Boston University.
[1] In other words: an income of 1.25 million dollars would be taxed at an additional four percentage points for 250 thousand of its dollars.
[2] https://massbudget.org/fairshare/
[3] http://nebhe.org/info/pdf/policy/New_England_2018_Tuition_Fees_Report.pdf
[4] https://www.mass.edu/datacenter/tuition/appendixtuitionfeesweight7.asp
[5] https://www.wgbh.org/news/education/2021/03/22/massachusetts-public-colleges-are-withholding-transcripts-and-degrees-from-thousands-over-unpaid-bills
[6] This goes for both higher and lower education.
[7] https://massbudget.org/2021/06/08/early-ed-cost-summary/
[8] https://massbudget.org/2021/06/08/early-ed-cost-summary/
[9] https://www.abettercity.org/assets/images/ABC%20-%20An%20Update%20on%20Transportation%20Finance%202019%20-%20Executive%20Summary.pdf
[10] https://www.massdottracker.com/wp/?p=4593
[11] https://www.massdottracker.com/wp/?p=4593
[12] https://www.abettercity.org/assets/images/ABC%20-%20An%20Update%20on%20Transportation%20Finance%202019%20-%20Executive%20Summary.pdf
[13] https://www.abettercity.org/assets/images/ABC%20-%20An%20Update%20on%20Transportation%20Finance%202019%20-%20Executive%20Summary.pdf
[14] https://www.massincpolling.com/the-topline/state-budget-poll
Image Credits:
First Image (person writing on notebook) by Startup Stock Photos via Pexels
Second Image (Amtrak Train) by Robert Kearns