Masspike toll hike scrapped

BOSTON (AP) - The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority has eliminated a planned toll hike hours before Gov. Deval Patrick signs a state budget that includes a 25 percent hike in the state sales tax.

The Turnpike board met Monday morning and approved a budget that relies on $100 million from the sales tax increase rather than a planned toll hike set to take effect July 1.
Patrick is scheduled to sign the $27.4 billion spending plan Monday afternoon in his Statehouse office.

The budget makes steep cuts to service and slashes aid to cities and towns.
It also includes the biggest broad-based tax increase in two decades -- a measure that would increase the state sales tax from 5 percent to 6.25 percent.

The tax hike will also help the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority close a $160 million budget gap.