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Sources & attribution

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

• MA Department of Revenue, Division of Local Services: Municipal Databank; LA3 sales via the Bureau of Local Assessment. Source
• MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Source
• US Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-24; Census of Governments and Annual Survey of State & Local Government Finances. Source
• US Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State & Local Government Finances: state-by-level public-use files for 2012-2015 and 2017-2024, and published Table 1 for 2016. Used for the national comparison. Source
• US Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances (F-33): FY2012-FY2024 summary tables. Source
• US Bureau of Economic Analysis, state personal income and population (SAINC1), 2012-2024. Source
• US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, series CUUR0000SA0), annual averages 2012-2024. Source
• Federal Reserve Board, Enhanced Financial Accounts: State and Local Government Defined Benefit Pension Plans, state-level detail, 2012 and 2022. Source
• National comparison figures are our own calculations from Census, BEA, BLS and Federal Reserve data; those agencies are the sources of the original data only.
• News stories are linked and credited to their outlets.
• No government agency endorses this site.

Key links

• MA DLS Municipal Databank (mass.gov)
• Debt and other financial indicators (mass.gov)
• Census government finance datasets (census.gov)
• Census Data API terms (census.gov)

Budget grades, override chances, takeaways and budget gap estimates are our own calculations from these sources. Questions or corrections: hello@beforeyoubuyma.com.