this weekend the sales tax here went from 5% to 6.25% and for weeks locals have been bitching and moaning and talking radio heads have been yapping about a 25% hike. they've been warning of the flood of shoppers who will bust new hampshire's gates and instead of bumping our budget, drain it dry. can we just for a second think about this? say you're going to hopeless depot to buy some potted plants and a pink flamingo for your yard and your budget is $100. how much will you spend on gas (never mind the time factor) to save $1.25? ahem.
long ago, the commonwealth was denigrated as "taxachusetts", but that shoe no longer fits (it just costs a bit more.) of the 45 states that have a general sales tax, we rank last in terms of the revenue the sales tax raises as a percentage of personal income.
an intrepid globe reporter went to the mall to talk to shoppers on saturday. just a direct paste, cuz you can't make this stuff up:
Take José Fonts, who complained about the tax boost as he waited for his daughter yesterday at the Natick Collection.
“It’s ridiculous,’’ he said. “I can tell you, I’m going to go to the next state to buy stuff.’’
But wait - what about the additional tax on the plaid Tommy Hilfiger comforter he had just bought, still wrapped in its plastic package?
Fonts lifted his hand to his forehead in surprise.“I didn’t think of it!’’ he said.
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