rbraun@spdcc.com (Rich Braun) (07/28/90)
Last week, a novel AIDS research and care funding initiative was signed into law in Massachusetts. Sponsored by Boston City Councilor David Scondras and state representative Mark Roosevelt (D-Boston), this new policy will place a new line on state tax returns beginning next year. Filers will be asked whether they wish to "check off" a box indicating an optional contribution to the state's AIDS funding budget; any amount may be added to the tax paid (or subtracted from the refund) as a contribution to this fund. This "checkoff" is the fourth such item on state tax returns. Note that the election fund checkoff on federal returns differs in that the contributions are limited to $1 and are paid by the government rather than by the taxpayer. The new fund is expected to add $1 million or more annually to the battle against AIDS in Massachusetts, at a time when state resources are rapidly dwindling in the face of a recession. -rich