Community Organizations Call for Tax Increases

Dozens of community organizations are pushing for a tax increase in Massachusetts to fund programs and projects they say have taken a hit over the past decade.

The Campaign for Our Communities held a rally Tuesday at the Bristol Community College campus in downtown New Bedford, urging support for Governor Patrick's budget plan for increased education and transporation funding or other "progressive" plans pending on Beacon Hill.

Siggy Meilus of bus riders united is urging more funding for regional transporation authorities like SERTA.

The groups will be lobbying for tax increases next tuesday on Beacon Hill.

The Governor is proposing to increase the state income tax, while decreaing the sales tax as a way to raise more than a billion dollars a year for education and transportation programs.