Least desirable tax hikes

(WWLP) - Higher Income, cigarette and gas taxes could be in our near future.    22News discovers which taxes are the least desirable. 

Massachusetts needs to find ways to make money to pay for transportation spending.  Governor Deval Patrick proposed raising the income tax from 5.25 % to 6.25 %. 

“Stay away from the income tax, we're already taxed enough as it is”, says Springfield’s Garet Young.

In a radio interview House Speaker Robert DeLeo said he doesn't believe the State House will back raising income tax a full point.  Although, DeLeo says the Governor's proposal to raise cigarette taxes from $2.51 per pack to $3.51 per pack is getting a serious look.  Something that non-smokers don't have much of a problem with. 

“Just because a lot of people don't think they should be taxed for people that don't smoke”, says Young.

We already pay a 21 cent gas tax for every gallon we pump.  Speaker DeLeo says they're talking about adding 15 cents to that in the next three years.

“From the gas, every time you go out and you don't have enough gas you try to fill up your tank and five bucks is not going to do it no more”, says Springfield’s Francesco Perez.

Regardless of what the people want, many think the state will just find ways to raise their taxes anyway. 

“They still going to raise all the taxes on everything.  That's what they're doing.  We never win”, says Perez.

The House Ways and Means committee is currently examining the Governor's budget.  Only step 2 of 9 before a budget is passed.