Lawmakers Rule Out Massachusetts' Summer Sales Tax Holiday
BOSTON (AP) — Shoppers in Massachusetts can forget about saving a few dollars on that new television or furniture set.
Legislative leaders say there will be no sales tax holiday in the Bay State this summer.
Senate President Stan Rosenberg and House Speaker Robert DeLeo blame the state's tenuous fiscal situation, which has prompted belt-tightening throughout state government.
The Democratic leaders said Monday after their regular meeting with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker that the state cannot afford to lose an estimated $26 million if the 6.25 percent sales tax is suspended for one weekend in August.
Massachusetts has held sales tax holidays in all but one year since 2004. They've never been made permanent. The holidays are popular with shoppers and merchants who welcome increased traffic during an otherwise slow summer retail period.
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