Says Taxpayers Can’t Afford to Pay Any More

April 22, 2010

PLYMOUTH - Expressing strong support for a Republican Amendment filed to the Municipal Relief Bill, Representative Vinny deMacedo today said he would not support any proposal that would allow cities and towns to unilaterally raise property taxes.

On Monday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives will take up a Municipal Relief Bill, which contains a proposal that would allow municipalities to raise property taxes outside of the constraints of the so-called “proposition 2½ limits” without a local vote.

Representative Brad Jones, the House Minority Leader, has already filed an amendment that would strike out the language permitting the increase of property taxes absent an override vote, and Representative deMacedo intends to support that effort.

“Proposition 2 ½ has done more to control government spending than any other initiative in the last 30 years and any legislation ever filed.  Any attempts to dismantle prop. 2 ½ will cost the taxpayers more money and I am convinced that the people of this commonwealth cannot afford to pay any more,” deMacedo said.

Citizens for Limited Taxation estimates that property owners could see as much as $550 million in additional property taxes if the Democratic Leadership’s proposal is adopted during Monday’s debate.

Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate have offered hundreds of millions of dollars in cost saving initiatives over the last three budget cycles and they plan to do the same this year as well.