BOSTON, MA — Today, Republican candidate for governor Brian Shortsleeve called on Maura Healey and Beacon Hill Democrats to direct the state’s unexpected surge in tax collections toward property tax relief by increasing unrestricted local aid for cities and towns across Massachusetts.
“For too long, the state has cried poverty while collecting more and more from Massachusetts taxpayers,” said Shortsleeve. “Now we learn Beacon Hill has overtaxed residents by $1.6 billion more than expected this fiscal year alone. Meanwhile, property taxpayers are being pummeled because unrestricted local aid has failed to keep pace with costs.”
“Higher property taxes to fund essential local services drive up the cost of housing both for homeowners and renters because Maura Healey has denied local communities the support they need in favor of her big government spending programs.. This extra revenue should go straight to property tax relief through an increase in unrestricted local aid so cities and towns can fund schools, police, fire, and public works without increasing property taxes and pushing more Prop 2 ½ overrides.”
Shortsleeve has made property tax relief and increasing unrestricted local aid a central part of his affordability agenda, arguing that Beacon Hill’s spending priorities have failed working families while driving up the cost of living across Massachusetts.