Controversial language struck from Municipal Relief Bill

April 26, 2010

BOSTON— Calling it a bipartisan victory, Representative deMacedo today praised his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for adopting a Republican-offered amendment to protect taxpayers from yet another tax increase.

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 deMacedo along with his Republican colleagues, supported an amendment offered by House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, Jr., to the so-called Municipal Relief Bill striking out the language permitting the increase of property taxes absent an override vote.

“I am glad my colleagues in the House of Representatives realized going back to the voters for more money was not an acceptable solution.  As difficult as it may be, the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts believe that government must live within its means.

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.