The Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance today blasted Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s comments criticizing Proposition 2½, the landmark taxpayer protection law overwhelmingly approved by voters in 1980.
“Mayor Wu is using a budget discussion as a cover to push her real agenda: higher taxes for Massachusetts. If it weren’t for Prop 2½, the cost of living in Boston would be even higher than it already is. Families and small businesses are already being crushed by housing costs, inflation, and energy bills, yet Mayor Wu thinks the answer is to chip away at the only safeguard taxpayers have against runaway property taxes,” said Paul D. Craney, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance.
“Prop 2½ not only protects taxpayers, it already allows cities and towns to ask voters directly for an override if they believe more revenue is needed. Boston has never even attempted an override, which proves just how unnecessary and disingenuous the Mayor’s call to weaken this law really is,” Craney added.
“Instead of scheming to take more from Boston taxpayers, the Mayor should demand that Beacon Hill return the billions in state revenue that rightfully belong to cities and towns through local aid. In recent years, over $1 billion a year has been wasted on runaway shelter costs instead of fixing our broken laws. That’s money that could have gone directly to supporting municipalities. Municipal leaders should be fighting to get more value from state government, not using their office as an excuse to raid the wallets of residents,” noted Craney.
Proposition 2½ remains one of the most important voter-imposed reforms in Massachusetts history, ensuring predictability for taxpayers while forcing municipal officials to live within their means.
“Prop 2½ is the only reason many working families can still afford to live in Massachusetts. Mayor Wu should be honest about what her comments really mean: higher taxes, higher rents, and higher costs for everyone in Boston. The voters got it right more than 40 years ago when they imposed this law, and MassFiscal will continue to defend it against tax-and-spend politicians,” said Craney.