With Massachusetts cities and towns feeling squeezed in recent years, dozens are turning to ballot measures to fund local needs, but history shows that’s a bad bet for closing budget gaps.Proposition 2 1/2 is the system through which Massachusetts communities can vote on an increase to the property tax levy. If approved, it allows the cities and towns to raise funds beyond the automatic 2.5% annual increase. Bay State cities and towns have voted on proposed property tax overrides more than 4,600 times since the 1980s, and a majority of those efforts have failed, according to a database maintained by the state Division of Local Services. State data shows that use of the procedure appears to be on an upward trajectory, after a lull following heavier use in the 2000s. “Everyone’s just getting back on their feet from COVID. Everybody was just getting, you know, back on their feet and their local economies. And then, boom, in comes Trump with tariffs, a war that puts gas prices and everything and makes everything unaffordable,” Democratic political analyst Mary Ann Marsh said during a roundtable discussion for Sunday’s episode of “On the Record.”So far this year, at least eight communities have voted on override measures. Of those, Arlington, Duxbury and Edgartown approved tax increases. Two Proposition 2 1/2 overrides were defeated in South Hadley on Tuesday.”The message to the other towns that are going to be going for a 2 1/2 override this season is don’t insult voters, recognize the affordability issue and only ask for what you absolutely need,” said Republican analyst Virginia Buckingham during the roundtable. NewsCenter 5’s analysis of the database reveals that approximately 58% of all Proposition 2 1/2 votes have failed since the measure was established, but the votes that were approved created more than $922 million in property tax expansions.Overrides intended to support health and human services budgets were most likely to pass, with voters supporting 51%, according to our analysis. Overrides for school budgets were the most common use of Proposition 2 1/2 and were approved by voters 48% of the time. Upcoming votes are scheduled in several other communities that face budget challenges. Easton has two overrides on the ballot on April 28, and other votes are scheduled during May in Berkley, Dennis, Hingham and Lunenburg.”I think everyone has to figure out for themselves: Can the state do more to help cities and towns? Can cities and towns do more to help themselves? No help is coming from the federal government until the midterm elections,” said Marsh.
With Massachusetts cities and towns feeling squeezed in recent years, dozens are turning to ballot measures to fund local needs, but history shows that’s a bad bet for closing budget gaps.
Proposition 2 1/2 is the system through which Massachusetts communities can vote on an increase to the property tax levy. If approved, it allows the cities and towns to raise funds beyond the automatic 2.5% annual increase.
Bay State cities and towns have voted on proposed property tax overrides more than 4,600 times since the 1980s, and a majority of those efforts have failed, according to a database maintained by the state Division of Local Services.
State data shows that use of the procedure appears to be on an upward trajectory, after a lull following heavier use in the 2000s.
“Everyone’s just getting back on their feet from COVID. Everybody was just getting, you know, back on their feet and their local economies. And then, boom, in comes Trump with tariffs, a war that puts gas prices and everything and makes everything unaffordable,” Democratic political analyst Mary Ann Marsh said during a roundtable discussion for Sunday’s episode of “On the Record.”
So far this year, at least eight communities have voted on override measures. Of those, Arlington, Duxbury and Edgartown approved tax increases.
Two Proposition 2 1/2 overrides were defeated in South Hadley on Tuesday.
“The message to the other towns that are going to be going for a 2 1/2 override this season is don’t insult voters, recognize the affordability issue and only ask for what you absolutely need,” said Republican analyst Virginia Buckingham during the roundtable.
NewsCenter 5’s analysis of the database reveals that approximately 58% of all Proposition 2 1/2 votes have failed since the measure was established, but the votes that were approved created more than $922 million in property tax expansions.
Overrides intended to support health and human services budgets were most likely to pass, with voters supporting 51%, according to our analysis. Overrides for school budgets were the most common use of Proposition 2 1/2 and were approved by voters 48% of the time.
Upcoming votes are scheduled in several other communities that face budget challenges. Easton has two overrides on the ballot on April 28, and other votes are scheduled during May in Berkley, Dennis, Hingham and Lunenburg.
“I think everyone has to figure out for themselves: Can the state do more to help cities and towns? Can cities and towns do more to help themselves? No help is coming from the federal government until the midterm elections,” said Marsh.
