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Massachusetts

Wealth surtax may generate $3 billion in Mass.

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Wealth surtax may generate  billion in Mass.


State budget honcho Matthew Gorzkowicz told municipal officials Tuesday that Massachusetts is on track to rake in nearly $3 billion from its surtax on household income greater than about $1 million, more than double the estimate used to craft this year’s budget.

The Department of Revenue reported last month that the state had collected just less than $2.6 billion from the 4% surtax between July 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025, surpassing the $2.46 billion that the surtax generated in fiscal 2024 in just 10 months of fiscal 2025. May and June collections are expected to add to that total, and Gorzkowicz said Tuesday that he now thinks total fiscal 2025 surtax collections “could be closer to $3 billion.”

“We will have the benefit of being able to spend those dollars on education, transportation, as you’ve seen us do with our January supp as part of our transportation package this past year,” the secretary of administration and finance told the Local Government Advisory Commission, referring to the surtax surplus spending bill that is now in conference committee. “We’ll have another opportunity to do that again.”

The Healey administration and legislative Democrats have used conservative collection estimates in the first few years of the surtax, which was approved by voters in 2022. Under the constitution, revenue generated by the surtax can only be used for education or transportation initiatives and the conservative estimating has given lawmakers extra money to dole out separate from the traditional state budget process.

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When they built the fiscal 2025 budget, the administration and legislative leaders agreed to spend $1.3 billion in surtax revenue this year. If Gorzkowicz’s estimate proves correct, the Legislature could have as much as $1.7 billion to spend sometime after DOR certifies the full-year surtax collection amount in the fall.

When they agreed on a consensus revenue estimate for fiscal 2026 earlier this year, Gorzkowicz and the Ways and Means Committee chairs mutually estimated the state will collect $2.4 billion from the income surtax in fiscal 2026. But they agreed to spend at most $1.95 billion from that in the annual budget bill, which like the surtax surplus bill is also the subject of conference committee negotiations.



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Massachusetts

Smoke from North Attleborough fire visible for miles

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Smoke from North Attleborough fire visible for miles


Fire broke out at an apartment building in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon, sending a column of smoke high into the air.

NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports the smoke was visible from miles away from the building on Juniper Road.

More details were not immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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Life Care Center of Raynham earns deficiency‑free state inspection

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Life Care Center of Raynham earns deficiency‑free state inspection


Life Care Center of Raynham has received a deficiency‑free inspection result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a distinction awarded to a small share of the state’s licensed nursing homes, according to a community announcement.

The inspection was conducted as part of the state’s routine, unannounced nursing home survey process overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These comprehensive, multi‑day inspections evaluate multiple aspects of facility operations, including staffing levels, quality of care, medication management, cleanliness, food service and resident rights.

State survey records show that Life Care Center of Raynham met required standards during its most recent standard survey, with no deficiencies cited, based on publicly available state data.

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The announcement states that fewer than 8% of Massachusetts nursing homes achieve deficiency‑free survey results. That figure could not be independently verified through state or federal data and is attributed to the announcement.

In addition to the state survey outcome, the facility is listed as a five‑star provider for quality measures on the federal Medicare Care Compare website. The five‑star quality measure rating reflects above‑average performance compared with other nursing homes nationwide, according to federal rating methodology.

Officials said the inspection results reflect ongoing compliance with state and federal standards designed to protect resident health and safety. According to the announcement, the outcome is attributed to staff performance and internal quality practices.

This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

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Brian Shortsleeve 'On The Record' about GOP run for governor of Massachusetts

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Brian Shortsleeve 'On The Record' about GOP run for governor of Massachusetts


Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve joins “On the Record” to discuss his case for the corner office, the war in Iran and Massachusetts’ $63 billion budget. Hosts Ed Harding and Sharman Sacchetti also press him on a ballot question that would cut the state income tax rate.



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