Massachusetts Governor Healey May Be Wobbling on Millionaire’s Tax

To put it politely, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey tends to flop around on issues like a black bass making tracks for the ocean from the slippery deck of a New Bedford fishing vessel. It is especially true as her 2026 re-election bid draws closer.

The Boston Globe reported that Healey, an original supporter of the voter-approved millionaire's tax, a four percent surtax on household incomes of over $1 million, could be open to repealing the law.

The Globe said Healey, asked whether she would oppose efforts to overturn the surtax, responded, "No, I think we need to evaluate what's going on, and I want to see the numbers. I just want to see what's happening in terms of any potential outmigration."

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State House News Service reported, "Healey's comments in the Globe seemed to take some advocates by surprise." Healey has touted the surtax as a way to fund future transportation projects.

The following day, Healey had a more solid position on the surtax question.

"No, I don't support repealing the surtax," she said.

State House News Service reported Healey's mixed messaging on the surtax comes as Healey's Secretary of Administration and Finance, Matthew Gorzkowicz, announced that Massachusetts expects to take in $3 billion from the surtax.

That's more than twice what was generated in the current budget year.

According to a ballot question approved by voters, revenue generated through the millionaire's tax must be set aside and dedicated exclusively to education and transportation.

Most of the $1.3 billion generated by the surtax in the current budget year is expected to go to resolve funding issues with the MBTA.