Berkshire Eagle - Editorial: Yes on Question 6
The 'Nature for All' fund initiative could steer more money toward conservation — a matter near and dear to us — without any additional cost to taxpayers.
The Berkshire EagleThe Berkshire Eagle editorial board consists of its president, publisher, executive editor and editorial page editor.
Given the great importance we place on our natural landscape here in the Berkshires, we’re big on conservation. So, a mechanism intended to steer more funding toward conservation efforts throughout the commonwealth sounds good to us. This initiative would pursue that goal without introducing any new taxes or fees, instead harnessing sales tax revenue raised by the purchase of nature-related products and services such as sporting goods, recreational vehicle rentals and golf course fees.
In general, we should be wary of pre-earmarked state revenue collection, as it reduces flexibility for shaping responsible and sensible state spending plans. This initiative’s targeted tax revenue stream is both narrow and appropriate; it would only earmark sales tax revenue from rather nature-adjacent transactions. Further, while the initiative would create a 15-member commission to oversee the use of the “Nature for All” fund, the Legislature would still have ultimate appropriation authority.
“Nature for All” seems an appropriate aspiration for green-minded Massachusetts, and this initiative lets us aspire to that without additional cost. The Eagle editorial board endorses a yes vote on Question 6.