By Bob Katzen
Chip Ford, the executive director of CLT announced that the group will end its 48-year operation at the end of the year.
“It’s a new era, time for new energy to move the tax limitation movement forward in Massachusetts,” said Ford. “For going on half a century CLT has carried the burden of leadership in that indispensable mission. The time has come to pass the tax limitation torch on to another generation.
Fortunately for Bay State taxpayers, and especially for CLT members, Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance is positioned well to run with that torch.”
“We thank Chip Ford for having faith in us to carry on the tremendous legacy of Citizens for Limited Taxation,” said Paul Craney, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. “From the 5 percent income tax roll back, to Prop 2½ and Chapter 62F, CLT’s legacy continues to have a measurable, positive impact on the businesses and working families of Massachusetts every day. We look forward to preserving that legacy and continuing on their mission of taxpayer protection for decades to come.”
The late Barbara Anderson, the group’s first executive director died in 2016 and associate director Chip Faulkner died in 2019. Both passed away at the age of 73. Chip Ford, CLT’s co-director alongside Barbara since 1996 then executive director since 2016, turned 73 last month and decided it’s time to step aside.
“I’m not particularly superstitious,” Ford said, “but why tempt the fates? With Paul Craney and his team at MassFiscal so ably advancing the mission this is a good time and place for CLT and me to take our leave.”
CLT led the charge for many tax savings measures over the years including passage of Proposition 2 ½ which limited property taxes, repeal of the 1975 7.5 percent surtax and the roll back of the 1989 income tax hike. Most recently, CLT was responsible for the return of $2.9 billion to taxpayers based on Chapter 62F, a 1986 law proposed by CLT and approved by the voters. That law requires that tax revenue above a certain amount collected by the state go back to the taxpayers. The state has determined that the net state tax revenues of $41.8 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022 is some $2.9 above the allowable state tax revenues of $38.8 million.