As you may recall, the House Ways and Means Committee proposed allowing municipalities to raise property taxes outside of the constraints of the so-called “proposition 2½ limits” without a local vote.
Representative Jones, with the support of all of his Republican colleagues, filed an amendment to the so-called Municipal Relief Bill striking out the language permitting the increase of property taxes absent an override vote.
“Since the Patrick-Murray Administration assumed office in 2007, the average property tax bill has increased by 18%; from $3,962 in FY07 to the current $4,671,” said Representative Jones. “Taxpayers can’t afford to foot the bill for the continued fiscal mismanagement by the Patrick-Murray Administration. Today, the Massachusetts House of Representatives took a significant step to protect the wallets of taxpayers and Proposition 2 ½, which passed 30 years ago.”
Citizens for Limited Taxation had estimated that if this bill passed with the original language, it would cost Massachusetts taxpayers more than $500 million in increased property taxes.
“I applaud my colleagues across the aisle for joining me in this cause,” added the top Republican in the House.