Having moved to Plymouth in September 2020 from the North Shore, I may be a relative newcomer here, but I am a lifelong resident of the Commonwealth and well-acquainted with our unique form of government. I’ve noticed that while Plymouth is growing rapidly, many of our neighbors—especially those from out of state—may not fully grasp the history or the mechanics of Proposition 2 ½.
To understand our current budget, one must look back to the 1970s. At that time, Massachusetts was known as “Taxachusetts,” with property taxes nearly 70% higher than the national average. In response, a citizens’ initiative led by Barbara Anderson of Marblehead and Citizens for Limited Taxation took a stand. In 1980, voters bypassed the legislature and overwhelmingly approved Proposition 2 ½ putting Beacon Hill on notice that the people demanded limited government.
I share this because fiscal discipline is possible. Before moving to Plymouth, I served as a Town Meeting Member in Saugus beginning in 1989. During my tenure, I was deeply involved in municipal finance and attended every Finance Committee meeting. I am proud to say that Saugus achieved a remarkable feat: when you combined the property tax rate with the water rates, it was the lowest combined rate in the entire state out of all 351 cities and towns.
However, while our towns have lived under a 2.5% cap for 40 years, the state government has ballooned. Since FY 2018 alone, state spending has grown by more than 51%. Our politicians have circumvented the spirit of Proposition 2 1/2 by hitting towns with millions in unfunded mandates. A scathing report by former State Auditor Suzanne Bump highlighted a $1.2 billion shortfall between what the state mandates and what it actually funds. We see this clearly in “targeted grants” for things like firefighters; the state pays for a limited time, and then the town must incur the full salary and pension costs forever. These are political stunts, not long-term solutions.
Finally, let me remind everyone that voters across the Commonwealth are pushing back. Just this past month, Malden voters rejected a historic override attempt, choosing instead to protect their household budgets. In Stoneham, a major $12.5 million override was recently defeated, and in South Hadley, residents just overwhelmingly voted “no” on two different multi-million dollar tax hike options. While the affluent city of Melrose did pass a $13.5 million override, it resulted in a massive property tax increase of nearly $1,600 per year for the average homeowner.
Remember, that increase is in addition to the automatic 2.5% levy increase that Plymouth has already taken, annually and methodically, every single year. Every override or debt exclusion is a hole punched in your protective ceiling. As we debate our fiscal future, let’s remember that “limited government” was the mandate from the people 40 years ago. It is time we return to that steady oversight.
- Al DiNardo
DiNardo is a Town Meeting member from Precinct 17