Shortsleeve: Massachusetts Must Cut Income Taxes & Bring Property Tax Relief By Properly Funding Cities and Towns

BOSTON, MA – Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve today reaffirmed his support for cutting the Massachusetts income tax from 5 percent to 4 percent, following opposition from the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Shortsleeve argued that municipalities and property taxpayers are victims of misplaced spending priorities on Beacon Hill, not a lack of state revenue, which continues to rise even beyond projections.

“Property taxes are skyrocketing because municipalities have been denied local aid even as state spending has ballooned on Beacon Hill and Maura Healey’s misplaced priorities. Over the past decade, local aid has barely increased while the state budget has exploded by more than $20 billion. The problem isn’t that taxpayers aren’t sending enough money to Beacon Hill, it’s that Beacon Hill is shifting costs onto cities and towns and forcing local officials to raise local property taxes so the state government can avoid accountability,” said Shortsleeve.

“As governor, I will rebuild the state budget from the ground up with affordability at its core. That means cutting wasteful spending and returning dollars to hard-working taxpayers through income tax reductions and an increase in local aid to support communities and deliver property tax relief,” said Shortsleeve.

Candidate for Lt. Governor Shawn Oliver concurred with Shortsleeve and added that he’s seen the consequences of the lack of unrestricted local aid up close in his capacity as New Bedford city councilor.

“Properly funding cities and towns was the very first issue I ever talked to Brian Shortsleeve about because I see the consequences every day as a city councilor,” said Shawn Oliver, candidate for Lieutenant Governor. “New Bedford is receiving roughly the same amount of unrestricted local aid it got 20 years ago, while costs for schools, public safety, and infrastructure have skyrocketed. Cities and towns are being starved of funds, forcing property tax hikes and overrides just to maintain basic services. Brian and I will get Beacon Hill’s priorities back in order and properly fund our communities.”