Salem School Committee Votes To Endorse MA 'Millionaire Tax'

SALEM, MA — The Salem School Committee closed its Monday night meeting with a unanimous vote to support a proposed "millionaire tax" on state residents with revenue to go toward education and public transportation.

The "Fair Share Amendment" ballot initiative would impose an additional 4 percent tax on residents making more than $1 million per year.

"I am proud to sponsor this resolution in support of the Fair Share Amendment, a statewide tax on millionaires that will then bring millions in funding to the very school district I was raised in," said Salem School Committee Vice Chair Manny Cruz, who is also a candidate for state representative. "With the dollars raised we can uplift our school communities through providing the smaller class sizes, social-emotional supports, extra tutoring, and additional counselors, nurses, and social workers that our students deserve."

The unanimous vote of support included Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, the School Committee Chair and a candidate for lieutenant governor.

Cruz introduced the motion, which was seconded, with no discussion taken place before the unanimous vote. Driscoll thanked Cruz for bringing forth the endorsement vote.

School Committees in Arlington, Greenfield, Malden, New Bedford, North Adam, Pittsfield and Springfield have taken similar votes.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)