The amount of state and local taxes paid in Massachusetts as a share of state personal income fell from 10.6 percent in Fiscal Year 2006 to 10.5 percent in FY 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's annual survey of State and Local Government Finances.  Massachusetts dropped in rank from 35th among all states in 2006 to 38th in 2007 (including the District of Columbia), according to the Census data released today.

Measuring taxes as a share of total personal income allows for a meaningful comparison among states. The numbers released today show that in FY 2007 the share of income paid in taxes for state and local public services was less in Massachusetts than in 36 other states and the District of Columbia.  To get the full story go to www.massbudget.org.