The organization opposing Question 1 has a significant cash advantage over the group supporting the measure, according to the most recent financial reports filed with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance.

The Coalition for our Communities, which opposes the anti-tax ballot question, reported raking in more than $2.4 million between Oct. 2 and Oct. 15 and finished the period with $845,000 in its bank account.

The Committee for Small Government, which supports the measure, raised nearly $26,000 and finished the period with $51,000 in its coffer.

The Coalition for our Communities received donations from several individuals but its largest contributions came from labor organizations. The Massachusetts Teachers Association gave $1.5 million to the effort and the National Education Association chipped in $750,000.

The group spent significant funds on consulting, including more than $18,000 to the Dewey Square Group. It also paid Kiley and Company, Tom Kiley's polling shop, $30,000 and MSHC Partners, Inc., a D.C. direct mail firm, more than $1.2 million.

The Committee for Small Government relied entirely on individual contributions. Most came in small amounts while two people gave $1,000, one gave $2,500 and another gave $5,000.

It used it's money sparsely, spending only $5,500. Nearly half of that, $2,500, went to Michael Cloud, a leader of the group, for campaign consulting.