SPRINGFIELD — Less than two years after state’s first tax cuts in 20 years were signed into law, Gov. Maura Healey visited Springfield on March 11 to promote the savings taxpayers will see from those cuts.
During a tax saving public awareness event at Educare Springfield, Healey highlighted the most prominent aspects of the 2023 tax cuts, including what she says is the best child and family tax credit in the country.
Under the terms of this credit, Massachusetts families will receive $440 per dependent child, adult with disabilities or senior, as opposed to $180 before. According to Healey, the new tax credit also eliminates the two-dependent cap that was previously in place.
In addition, the tax cuts increase the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit from 30% to 40% of the federal credit. Healey said that when you combine that increase with the new child and family tax credit, some families may see a federal and state credit of close to $10,000 when they file their taxes this year.
“We’re putting hundreds of dollars back in pockets of families all around the state,” Healey said. “We made sure that people getting hit hardest by high costs, like families with young kids or seniors, get the break that they need.”
The Educare event was conducted ahead of the April 15 tax filing deadline to remind people of the savings they can benefit from. Joining Healey for the event were Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Sonia Dinnall, state Sen. Adam Gomez (D-Springfield), state Rep. Bud Williams (D-Springfield) and Springfield City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce and many other community leaders and stakeholders.
In his remarks, Sarno not only touted Healey for the tax cuts, but also her work with the city on other tax relief initiatives, like the local option of the HERO Act that she signed into law last year-which increases benefits for veterans across the state.
“I deeply appreciate the support and leadership from Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll on signing this historic tax package that includes relief and savings for our residents and families, including updates to the Child & Family Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit that will benefit hundreds of thousands of families,” Sarno said in a statement.
Conducting the tax saving public awareness event at Educare was rather fitting considering the school’s mission and demographics it serves. Nikki Burnett, the executive director for the school, said Educare is one of 25 schools in the National Educare Learning Network and the only Educare school in the state.
She said the school’s model focuses on the delivery of early education and partnership through data and support of professional development of its educators.
Through a tripartite collaboration with Square One and SPS, Educare provides year-round education for children from six weeks after birth to five years old, she said.
“We’re bringing these public and private partners together to show that when we work together in full partnership, full transparency and we blend and we integrate our expertise and our resources that our children and our families need,” Burnett said. “I’m grateful for the partners that are here with me today.”
Dawn DiStefano, the president and CEO of Square One, said that the child and family tax credit assists the exact families that Square One and Educare works with.
She talked about how resources like the tax credit allows these families to have a reliable car, safe home and healthy food.
“What we know about families at Square One is this money makes a bigger difference than anyone here can ever account for,” DiStefano said. “We know that everyone benefits when family and children have resources they need for a stable life.”
Readers can learn more about the state’s tax benefits by visiting the state’s website, mass.gov/taxcuts.
