1980 Nov 4 :: State of Massachusetts :: Question 2 :: Initiative PetitionDo you approve of a law summarized below, which was disapproved by the House of Representatives on May 6, 1980, by a vote of 5-146, and on which no vote was taken by the Senate before May 7, 1980? See summary »

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Choices
 
Yes
 
 
No
 
 
Summary

The proposed law would limit certain taxes, and change laws relating to school budgets and compulsory binding arbitration. It would impose a limit on state and local taxes on real estate and personal property equal to 21/2% of the full and fair cash value of the property being taxed. If a locality currently imposes a tax greater than 2.5% of that cash value, the tax would have to be decreased by 15% each year until the 21/2% level is reached. If a locality currently imposes a tax of less than 21/2%, it would not be allowed to increase the tax rate. In either situation, a city or town could raise its limit by a 2/3 local vote at a general election.

The proposed law would provide that the total taxes on real estate and personal property imposed by the state or by localities could never be increased by more than 2.5% of the total taxes imposed for the preceding year, unless two thirds of the voters agreed to the increase at a general election.

It would further provide that no law or regulation which imposes additional costs on a city or town, or a law granting or increasing tax exemptions, would be effective unless the state agrees to assume the added cost. A division of the State Auditor's Department would determine the financial effect of laws and regulations on the various localities.

The proposal would limit the amount of money required to be appropriated for public schools to that amount voted upon by the local appropriating authority. It would also repeal the law which provides for compulsory binding arbitration when labor negotiations concerning police and fire personnel come to an impasse. In addition, the petition would provide that no county, district, or authority could impose any annual increase in costs on a locality of greater than 4% of the total of the year before.

The proposed law would also reduce the maximum excise tax rate on motor vehicles from $66 per thousand to $25 per thousand, and it would allow a state income tax deduction equal to one half of the rent paid for the taxpayer's principal place of residence.

1980 Nov 4 :: State of Massachusetts :: Question 2 :: Initiative PetitionDo you approve of a law summarized below, which was disapproved by the House of Representatives on May 6, 1980, by a vote of 5-146, and on which no vote was taken by the Senate before May 7, 1980? See summary »

Ballot Question Results

View results as: # | %  
Ward
Yes
No
Blank Votes Total Votes Cast Total Ballots Cast
Totals
 
15,643
14,554
1,529
30,197
31,726
Precinct 1
 
365
338
35
703
738
Precinct 2
 
309
236
24
545
569
Precinct 3
 
344
282
14
626
640
Precinct 4
 
368
334
48
702
750
Precinct 5
 
335
231
27
566
593
Precinct 1
 
144
146
29
290
319
Precinct 2
 
339
368
28
707
735
Precinct 3
 
160
219
22
379
401
Precinct 4
 
321
435
51
756
807
Precinct 5
 
311
469
32
780
812
Precinct 6
 
280
282
29
562
591
Precinct 1
 
403
529
61
932
993
Precinct 2
 
330
452
42
782
824
Precinct 3
 
451
458
29
909
938
Precinct 4
 
420
342
122
762
884
Precinct 5
 
327
358
55
685
740
Precinct 1
 
481
396
35
877
912
Precinct 2
 
358
268
43
626
669
Precinct 3
 
525
395
55
920
975
Precinct 4
 
530
446
39
976
1,015
Precinct 5
 
538
361
65
899
964
Precinct 6
 
463
475
32
938
970
Precinct 1
 
435
320
42
755
797
Precinct 2
 
401
371
39
772
811
Precinct 3
 
419
418
35
837
872
Precinct 4
 
486
371
23
857
880
Precinct 5
 
419
271
21
690
711
Precinct 6
 
440
412
47
852
899
Precinct 1
 
497
439
34
936
970
Precinct 2
 
516
447
29
963
992
Precinct 3
 
357
479
26
836
862
Precinct 4
 
437
389
30
826
856
Precinct 5
 
346
353
21
699
720
Precinct 1
 
507
384
50
891
941
Precinct 2
 
439
428
35
867
902
Precinct 3
 
526
548
53
1,074
1,127
Precinct 4
 
711
714
82
1,425
1,507
Precinct 5
 
605
390
45
995
1,040
Totals
 
15,643
14,554
1,529
30,197
31,726