MBTAAnalysis: A look inside the MBTA

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The MBTA shuttles over a million passengers a day around Greater…

The Clock is Ticking…….

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The clock is ticking towards December 30, 2017.  As part of…

Massachusetts Is Losing Adjusted Gross Income to No-Income Tax State Migration

In light of a proposed tax increase on million-dollar annual…

Ely Kaplansky Goes from Immigrant to Inc. 5000 Insurance Entrepreneur

This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Ely Kaplansky, President & CEO of Kaplansky Insurance. Since 1974, Ely has created hundreds of jobs in Massachusetts and beyond, with 85 employees in 15 offices across the state today, and he has grown his business during the pandemic, such that Kaplansky Insurance was named to Inc. magazine’s "5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America" list. His success fulfilled the dreams of his parents when they moved from Israel to America in 1955, with just the clothes on their backs and an aunt to take them in. Their journey began in the concentration camps of Germany, and Ely’s story is all about the opportunity and freedom America offers.

Massachusetts Residents Are Opting to File for Residential Energy Tax Credits

In 2018, 14,230 Massachusetts taxpayers received a total of $65,868,000…

How do employment trends differ between urban and rural Massachusetts from 1999-2019?

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To better understand these statistics, data available on employment across Massachusetts counties is helpful. This blog will investigate the employment trends in Franklin and Middlesex Counties from 1999-2019.

Larry O’Toole on Workplace Culture & Immigration Policy

On this week's episode of JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks to Larry O’Toole, founder of the multi-state Gentle Giant Moving Company that started in 1980 right here in the Boston area. They discuss Mr. O'Toole's journey at a young age from Ireland to Brookline, Mass., the challenges of being uprooted, and the ability to thrive despite barriers such as skills gaps, that many immigrants face.

Sandro Catanzaro Takes His American Dream to Mars and Back

This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Sandro Catanzaro, who started several businesses in his native Peru but had no idea he’d end up helping NASA go to Mars, or that he’d use that same technology to plan and buy video ad campaigns. Now Head of Publisher Services Strategy for Roku, which acquired the company he founded, dataxu, in 2019, Mr. Catanzaro is an emblem of ingenuity and inventiveness. His demand-side platform, device graph technology and analytics platform help accelerate Roku’s ad tech roadmap and ability to serve a wide array of advertisers. But he’s not done yet!

COVID-19 will likely lead to a recession. Can Massachusetts municipal budgets handle one?

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Using municipalities' experiences during the Great Recession, a new policy brief examines the likely impact of COVID-19 on local property taxes, as well as political implications for state aid. We list the municipal revenues by category among the least tax-reliant communities in Massachusetts, show the trajectory of tax revenue growth rate in Massachusetts state and local governments, and rank stabilization fund assets per capita among Massachusetts Gateway Cities.

Public Statement: Extend Massachusetts’ Income Tax Filing Deadline

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Massachusetts must extend the tax filing deadline, just as the federal government and 34 of the 41 states that tax income have done.

MassAnalysis: Drawing data-based comparisons between cities and towns

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Massachusetts has 351 cities and towns—a constellation of communities…

The Connection Between Property Taxes and Pension Funding

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A recent study from economist Evgenia Gorina, published in the…

Time to Say “Cut” on Massachusetts’ Film Tax Credit?

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State Senate President Karen Spilka is taking preliminary steps…

A Primer on Secondary Revenue Sources for Local Governments

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Using Pioneer Institute’s MassAnalysis tool, one can find information…

The State Legislature Should Steer Clear of New Occupational Licensing Laws

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The reach of occupational licensing laws has expanded greatly…

The Storrow Drive Tunnel Has The Lowest Sufficiency Rating In The Country, Why Hasn’t It Been Fixed Yet?

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If you live in or commute to Boston, chances are you’ve driven…

What impact do Massachusetts home prices have on Boston commuters?

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Massachusetts is commonly ranked one of the most expensive states…

Blandford’s Police Resignation Could Shed Light on Underlying Issues

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Last week, the Town of Blandford’s police force resigned en…

Got Milk? The Answer Might Soon Be No in Massachusetts

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It’s not a good time to be a dairy farmer in Massachusetts,…

A Public Transit that Neglects Its Public

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Two of a community’s most important hubs are its colleges and…

Should Boston want to be the home of Amazon’s second headquarters?

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Amazon is the kind of company whose mere presence is enough to…

Investing in commercial development may ease fiscal woes without affecting crime

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Bedford, Massachusetts is a suburban town of about 14,000 in…

Boston is a global city. Here’s why that status is threatened

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Boston is often touted as a “global city.” A quick Google…
the Boston skyline overlaid with money.

Which State Employees Make More than the Boss?

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In 2017, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections had 20 employees…

Why Did the Department of Corrections Pay a Chef $166,762 last year?

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Pioneer Institute’s MassOpenBooks transparency tool shows an…

Many Massachusetts towns choosing to forego marijuana tax revenue

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Local officials, health advocates, and neighborhood group leaders…