Larry Parnass is reporting for The Berkshire Eagle a measure to require wealthy Massachusetts residents to pay higher income taxes won the approval of voters in Berkshire County, November 8. The Fair Share Amendment, or Question 1 on the ballot, called to impose an additional 4 percent tax on the portion of incomes over $1 million, with the added revenue earmarked for education and infrastructure. With 92.5 percent of precincts statewide reporting, the new tax passed with 52 percent support. In Berkshire County, the measure had the support of 67 percent of voters. Hancock was the only town in the county to reject a higher tax on incomes, rejecting the question 181-162. In several Berkshire communities, Question 1 had landslide support. Some of the biggest endorsers were Great Barrington (75.8 percent in favor), Williamstown (75.3 percent), Monterey (71.1 percent) and Pittsfield (69.5 percent). A total of four referendum questions appeared on all state ballots and the outcomes in Berkshire County were consistent with the statewide results. Question 2, required dental insurers to spend at least 83 percent of the premiums they collect on actual dental care. Question 3, the measure to lift the cap on retail liquor licenses, failed 55 to 45 percent. And Question 4, to preserve the new right of some undocumented residents to secure driver’s licenses, passed with 62.5 percent of the yes or no votes locally, compared to 53.7 percent statewide. Read the full story in The Berkshire Eagle.