Governor outlines his top priorities

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - In his second-to-last "State of the Commonwealth" Address, Governor Patrick Wednesday night called for better transportation, cheaper and better education and some fundamental changes to state taxes.
     
If the governor gets his way, we'll all pay more income tax, but we'll get a break when we go shopping.
   
Before a joint session of the State legislature, Governor Deval Patrick outlined his call to action for the coming year.
  
One of his top priorities, education. "Let's once again fund K-12 education higher than we did last year. Our lead in education is too important to lose." 
 
The Governor also wants to make college education affordable. "We have unmet needs in our transportation system..."
  
The governor has ideas to improve the state's transportation system. “Imagine if the Green Line ran to Medford and the commuter rail ran to Springfield and the Housatonic line was reopened between Pittsfield and New York.”

To fund these improvements, Patrick’s proposing a restructuring of our tax system by placing more reliance on the income tax, and less on the sales tax. "I will propose that we cut the sales tax from the current rate of 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent and dedicate all the proceeds to a public works fund."

The governor suggests changes that will certainly impact your paycheck. “My budget will propose that we increase the income tax by 1 percent to 6.25 percent.”

The governor said to make the tax changes fair, he'll propose doubling personal exemptions for every taxpayer, and eliminating some itemized deductions.