Massachusetts Judges Target Income Tax Ballot Question Wording

Judges on Massachusetts’ top court appeared poised Monday to throw out a proposed ballot initiative that would cut the state’s personal income tax rate over language they found potentially confusing to voters.

Plaintiffs, a group of eight state residents, argued the attorney general’s wording on the ballot question violates the state constitution’s requirement that voters receive a “fair, concise summary” of a proposed change in law. Massachusetts could see a $5 billion revenue hit if the measure were to pass, drawing opposition from state leaders.

The initiative has heightened the stakes of Massachusetts’ budget season. Lawmakers have proposed matching federal ...