Good Jobs First found no instances of economic development subsidies in this state, but given the absence of centralized data, it is still possible that deals have quietly occurred.

Many Wal-Mart workers are ineligible for health coverage from their employer or choose not to purchase what is available, because it is too expensive or too limited in scope. These workers often turn to taxpayer-funded health programs such as Medicaid. Massachusetts publishes an annual report on employers with 50 or more employees using MassHealth or the Uncompensated Care Pool. The 2007 report listed Wal-Mart as having the largest number of total employees and their dependents using the programs. The 6,070 users cost the state about $8.4 million in the previous fiscal year. Source: http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dhcfp/r/pubs/07/50+_ee_2007_table.pdf. An accompanying report is at http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dhcfp/r/pubs/07/50+_ee_2007_report.pdf

For an estimate of how much Wal-Mart is costing the state of MA for taxpayer-funded healthcare, see http://www.wakeupwalmart.com/feature/healthcrisis/map.html#MA

In the course of researching our report Rolling Back Property Tax Payments , Good Jobs First did not learn of any property tax assessment appeals at Wal-Mart locations in Massachusetts.

Pittsfield, MA : not available

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