Press Release: 5/27/2026

Boston Globe Publishes Our Op-Ed Defending Proposition 2½

At a time when Beacon Hill insiders and activist groups are openly targeting Proposition 2½, the Fiscal Alliance Foundation has taken the case directly to the Boston Globe. In a newly published op-ed, we lay out why this law remains one of the most important taxpayer protections in Massachusetts and why efforts to weaken it are deeply misguided.

 

 

Read the op-ed here: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/05/25/opinion/proposition-2-12-property-tax-law-massachusetts/

 

Or on our website here: https://www.massfiscal.org/op-ed-prop-2-1-2-still-gets-balance-right

 

While Beacon Hill insiders and activists are openly calling to weaken or repeal Proposition 2½, our message is clear: the law is working, and taxpayers are better off because of it.

 

In the piece, we lay out the facts:

 

• 
  

  Property taxes are far more predictable today because of Proposition 2½

  
  


• 
  

  The average effective tax rate has dropped dramatically since its passage

  
  


• 
  

  Homeowners are saving thousands of dollars thanks to its limits on automatic tax hikes

  
  


• 
  

  Despite claims to the contrary, local revenues have continued to grow steadily

  
  
  

   

  
  

We also push back on a key myth: the problem isn’t Proposition 2½, it’s a lack of sufficient local aid from the state.

 

This Op-Ed’s publication comes following the release of our comprehensive new study that takes a deeper dive into the data behind Proposition 2 ½, including:

 

• 
  

  Long-term tax savings for homeowners

  
  


• 
  

  Revenue growth trends in cities and towns

  
  


• 
  

  A breakdown of municipalities that have never adopted overrides

  
  


• 
  

  The role of state aid in local budget pressures

  
  
  

   

  
  

Read the full study here: https://www.fiscalalliancefoundation.org/proposition-2-half-saves-homeowners-thousands

 

This is a critical moment. With renewed efforts to chip away at Proposition 2½, it’s more important than ever taxpayers are armed with the facts needed to defend the policies that keep Massachusetts affordable.

 

We encourage you to read the op-ed, review the study, and share both with your network.