There is no question that the Proposition 2½ override places an unfair burden on our less economically-fortunate residents. It is the worst of taxes, but we have run out of any other way locally to raise revenue.
I attended one of the mayor’s talks and was impressed by the sheer effort he is making to explain this complicated and unpopular way to raise money for our city. The city’s budget is transparent and the mayor has, for three years, put off this anticipated plea for more money. Any other avenue allowed by the Legislature to raise revenue — increased property tax revenue from residential and commercial development, a restaurant meal tax, tax on marijuana sales — has been pursued by our mayor.
I was struck with the fact that all of these taxes cannot keep pace with the rising costs of maintaining infrastructure and employing and insuring teachers, police and other public employees.
Rather than criticizing the mayor, we should look at why we do not get more tax revenue from the state. In 2002, a state law was passed to lower our state income tax to 5%. From the Mass.gov website, I learned that the state budget is projected to reduce tax revenue by approximately $88 million in fiscal year 2020 and approximately $185 million in fiscal year 2021.
On learning that my state income taxes have been cut steadily, I understood how Northampton is between a rock and a hard place.
To maintain our city and its services, I will vote yes to the override. Though I will have to spend more on property taxes, I will think of it as passing along what I would have gladly paid in state income taxes.
I am grateful that under this mayor’s leadership, Northampton’s budget has been rigorously monitored and our city has maintained services and a quality of life from which all residents benefit. We cannot maintain a city without taxes; therefore it behooves us to campaign for progressive forms of taxation rather than, every few years, having our mayor resort to pleading with us for a property tax override.
Anne Fine
Northampton