Brian Shortsleeve for Massachusetts NEW BEDFORD, MA – Today, Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve and Lieutenant Governor candidate Shawn Oliver unveiled their Local Aid and Property Tax Relief Plan, a comprehensive proposal designed to deliver meaningful relief to municipalities and homeowners across Massachusetts.
“We’ve all seen the headlines plaguing our state: 1,400 teachers laid off, more than 160 communities pursuing Prop 2½ overrides just to stay afloat, public safety officials being cut, and critical local services being reduced,” said Shortsleeve. “New Bedford is potentially losing a fire station. These are the direct consequences of failed priorities from Maura Healey and her allies on Beacon Hill. Local aid has been neglected, forcing higher property taxes and fewer services onto working families. Maura Healey has deliberately shifted the tax burden onto the backs of homeowners.”
“We need a State House that listens to and supports our municipalities, not one that starves them of local aid while state government enjoys record revenues,” said Oliver.
“Beacon Hill is forcing cities and towns into Prop 2½ overrides because it has failed to prioritize local aid. Communities are being backed into a corner: either raise property taxes or cut teachers, police, firefighters, and essential services. That is unacceptable. Our plan restores local aid, relieves pressure on municipalities, and protects homeowners from higher property taxes,” Shortsleeve added.
Local Aid and Property Tax Relief Plan
Double Local Aid
The first Shortsleeve budget will double Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) for cities and towns and permanently tie future increases to inflation so municipalities can finally keep pace with rising costs.
Protect Proposition 2½
Families cannot afford endless property tax hikes. Without Prop 2 1/2, the average homeowner would be paying almost 19% more in property taxes. Brian Shortsleeve will protect Proposition 2½ and oppose efforts to weaken taxpayer protections through overrides and higher local taxes.
Return Excess Revenue to Communities
The state should never be sitting on billions in excess revenue while cities and towns are forced into overrides. A portion of excess state revenue will automatically be returned to municipalities to provide direct property tax relief.
Repeal the MBTA Communities Act
The MBTA Communities Act is an unfunded state mandate that punishes municipalities with a one-size-fits-all approach to housing. Brian Shortsleeve will repeal the law and replace it with a voluntary incentive-based housing program that rewards communities for growth instead of penalizing them.
Incentivize Housing Growth
Communities that choose to build housing will receive targeted state support for:
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Sewer and water infrastructure expansion
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Local planning assistance
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Faster environmental permitting
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Redevelopment of vacant and blighted properties
Stop Local Tax Hikes
The Shortsleeve Administration will:
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Stop efforts to triple the auto excise tax
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Oppose new local option taxes
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Exempt municipalities from paying the state gas tax on local government operations
Create a Public Safety Building Authority
Establish a statewide authority to help municipalities finance and construct police stations, fire stations, and public safety complexes without crushing local budgets.
Modernize Local Government
Brian Shortsleeve will reduce bureaucracy and modernize municipal operations by:
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Simplifying procurement rules
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Allowing legal notices to be published on municipal websites
Encourage Regional Partnerships
The state should encourage communities to save money through voluntary regional cooperation, including:
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Regional dispatch centers
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Shared public health departments
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Joint purchasing agreements
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Shared transportation services
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Regional IT and HR support
Empower Seniors to Stay in Their Homes
Give municipalities greater flexibility to increase senior property tax exemptions so longtime residents can afford to remain in their communities.
Instead of wasting billions on bureaucratic programs, migrant crisis mismanagement, and fraud-ridden systems, the Shortsleeve Administration will focus on the basics: lowering costs, strengthening communities, and giving cities and towns the resources they deserve.