Municipal budgets at the breaking point

 

New from CommonWealth Beacon CLIMATE: House members of a key legislative committee are forging ahead with a controversial bill that would defang the state’s 2030 emissions-reductions commitments. Jordan Wolman has the details.  OPINION: Ahead of the latest annual health care cost trends hearing Wednesday, Paul Hattis writes that this year feels even more dire, with a confluence of factors posing bigger challenges than ever for patients, providers, and other stakeholders.

Municipal budgets at the breaking point   November 12, 2025 By CommonWealth Beacon staff

The advocacy group representing all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts fired a warning flare up to Beacon Hill last month when it published a detailed report likening the budget woes municipalities face to a “perfect storm.”

But how did communities get to this point? What kind of solutions do they want to see, and what would that mean for taxpayers?

This week, The Codcast hosts a panel discussion unpacking municipal finance issues with a trio of guests: Massachusetts Municipal Association executive director Adam Chapdelaine, Amesbury mayor Kassandra Gove, and Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance executive director Paul Craney.

The report from the Massachusetts Municipal Association found that unrestricted general government aid to cities and towns has dropped over the past two decades once adjusted for inflation, forcing communities to foot the rising bill for services with budgets that are constrained by a cap on property tax increases.

In Chapdelaine’s view, the current crisis is a mix of longer-term factors that have been building for decades and the “incendiary pressure of significant inflation” in recent years.

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“It is a little bit of a mix of things that have been in place for a long time but have likely intensified, and some other things that have had more ebbs and flows that are now just ebbs in the wrong direction,” he said.

That has big implications for constituents. Municipalities are responsible for K-12 schools, local police and fire departments, public works, libraries, and other important services.

“There’s this friction for the taxpayer that their taxes are going up and they’re paying a lot here, but they are getting less for that dollar,” Gove said.

In Amesbury, officials pursued a $6 million Proposition 2½ override, asking voters to hike property taxes in exchange for restoring cut educator positions, preventing public safety cuts, and stabilizing budgets for upcoming years.

The measure failed, with about 58 percent of votes in opposition. (This episode of The Codcast was recorded before the election.)

Prop 2½, a law voters approved in 1980, limits the amount that cities and towns can increase property taxes each year. It’s landed back in the spotlight in recent weeks, especially after Boston mayor Michelle Wu called for repealing the measure.

The law still has some vocal supporters, though, including Craney.

“Prop 2½ is the reason why people can afford to stay in Massachusetts,” he said. “It’s one of the hallmark pro-taxpayer laws in the entire country. It’s so well-regarded and esteemed that other states are told to go do Prop 2½ as a model.”

On this episode, guests debate how much of the strain is a result of recent developments and how much stems instead from structural factors (6:35), assess the history and future of Proposition 2½ (13:30), and consider who has the power to solve the problem (26:40).

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More Context Could Boston face an ‘urban doom loop’? (January 2023)   Healey pitches new revenue source for cities and towns: vehicle surcharge (January 2024)

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What We're Reading IT'S UNREASONABLE FOR ME TO POST AN ARTICLE ABOUT CARPETBAGGER & LIAR JOHN DEATON WITHOUT A COMMENT!  JOHN DEATON STOOD IN FRONT OF ONE OF THE CAPE COD BRIDGES SURROUNDED BY OTHER BRAIN DEAD MASS GOP &  BLAMED SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN FOR THE FAILURE TO FUND RE-BUILDING THE BRIDGES - LIE!  THE BRIDGES ARE OWNED BY THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS & TRUMP SLASHED THEIR FUNDING!  WERE JOHN DEATON NOT A CARPETBAGGER, HE MIGHT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT ALL OF THE PUBLIC HEARINGS THAT HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX SURROUNDING ISSUES.  ONE OF THOSE BRIDGES RAISES & LOWERS, INCLUDES TRAIN TRACKS THAT ALLOW FOR RAIL FREIGHT TO BE TRANSPORTED, INCLUDING TRASH, AS WELL AS PUBLIC RECREATIONAL USE SUCH AS DINNERS & ENTERTAINMENT. IN ADDITION, DURING THE COMPLEX STEWARD BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS, JOHN DEATON WAS TOO LAZY TO RESEARCH THE SURROUNDING ISSUES LACKING FACTS & SIMPLY BLOVIATED MANURE!  STEWARD INCLUDED 2 HOSPITAL CLOSURES IN THEIR BANKRUPTCY FILINGS THAT THE COMMONWEALTH SOUGHT TO OVERTURN WITHOUT SUCCESS.  THERE ARE LENGTHY DETAILS ABOUT THE TAXPAYER COSTS OF PROTECTING HEALTH CARE AS MUCH AS WAS POSSIBLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES!  The COMMONWEALTH did its best to maintain HEALTH CARE SERVICES at the same time COMPASS abruptly closed leaving  200,000 patients without services.  IF REPUBLICANS DIDN'T LIE, NO ONE WOULD ELECT THEM!  STEWARD HEALTH CARE  MIDDLEBORO REVIEW 2 What John Deaton said about challenging Sen. Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts CRYPTO SCAMMER DEATON blabbered about ECONOMICS for which he has NO EXPERTISE. Let's remember that MAGA MORON have opposed FUNDING CHILD TAX CREDITS that reduced POVERTY! (LOOK IT UP!) MAGA MORONS IN THE HOUSE WANT TO SLASH IRS FUNDINGS TO STOP AUDITS OF THE WEALTHY....but it's even more complicated than this. IRS AGENTS WERE INCREASED TO AUDIT WEALTHY TAX CHEATS! IRS ramps up new initiatives using Inflation Reduction Act funding to ensure complex partnerships, large corporations pay taxes owed, continues to close millionaire tax debt cases  https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-ramps-up-new-initiatives-using-inflation-reduction-act-funding-to-ensure-complex-partnerships-large-corporations-pay-taxes-owed-continues-to-close-millionaire-tax-debt-cases  COMMENT:  Deaton's whole campaign is to say we need a change from Warren, but change for the sake of change is something politically ignorant people cry for. Warren is an upstanding person with a civil service background. She deserves our vote. Falsely claiming she doesn't help the middle class isn't going to get Deaton more votes. Warren has sponsored and co-sponsored thousands of pieces of legislation that I bet anyone who votes for this guy hasn't even read. She's proven to be a competent leader. She is also much more intelligent and substantive than Deaton. Thank you! CARPETBAGGER John Deaton stood before the CAPE COD BRIDGES that gridlock traffic in the entire region & blamed SENATOR WARREN which is a LIE! SENATOR WARREN is responsible for the creation of the CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU that MAGA MORONS have challenged repeatedly to destroy. It's the ONLY agency that protects CONSUMERS - YOU! SENATOR WARREN has done a great deal to protect Americans, the BANKING SYSTEM & much else that the SUPERFICIAL CLOWN wouldn't begin to comprehend. WARREN BUFFETT called CRYPTO: 'RAT POISON SQUARED.' John Deaton is a CRYPTO SCAMMER! A 2nd FDIC INSURED BANK has failed due to CRYPTO - that means TAX PAYPAYERS will bail out this SCAM! CARPETBAGGER JOHN DEATON & STEWARD STEWARD IS IN BANKRUPTCY COURT....apparently BLOVIATOR JOHN DEATON is unfamiliar with how BANKRUPTCY works. The Commonwealth attempted to thwart the HOSPITAL CLOSURES & were denied.... Once again, the CARPETBAGGER is a LIAR! HOMELESSNESS PRE-DATED ASYLUM SEEKERS! BE IMPRESSED THAT JOHN DEATON ACTUALLY ATTENDED A MEETING! BUT HE LACKS THE FACTS! JOHN DEATON WROTE: Assuming those were divided equally, the cost of keeping Nashoba Valley and Carney open for an additional year would cost $25 million. JOHN DEATON, SHOOT FROM THE LIP BLABBER DOESN'T HAVE FACTS! CHUCKLES went to a single meeting...that makes him informed? THE CARPETBAGGER LIVES IN BOLTON? Were those "lease contracts" for the LAND? Chuckles ignores that STEWARD is in bankruptcy that limits the states' options. Before declaring bankruptcy, Steward was committed to lease contracts for its eight hospitals that cost a total of $100 million annually. Assuming those were divided equally, the cost of keeping Nashoba Valley and Carney open for an additional year would cost $25 million. Jon, You were too lazy to look up that CRYPTO SCAMMER JOHN DEATON voted 3 times in 20 years. JOHN DEATON: JOHN DEATON, SURROUNDED BY BRAIN DEAD REPUBLICANS BLAMED ELIZABETH WARREN FOR THE FUNDING FAILURE OF THE CAPE COD BRIDGES ... MASSACHUSETTS has a CRYPTO CARPET BAGGER with no ties to MASSACHUSETTS, running against Senator Elizabeth Warren who is blaming her for the failure to replace the BRIDGES...PHOTO OP in front of one of the BRIDGES. DIM WIT JOHN DEATON was joined by other MASS GOP DIM WITS. In other words, THEY LIED!   Neither REPUBLICANS nor MASS GOP spoke out for funding! "R" VOTERS ARE LAZY - LOOK IT UP!   THESE ARE A FEW OF THE MASS GOP DIN WITS WHO DID NOTHING TO FIGHT  FOR FUNDING...JOHNNY COME LATELY: WHINE & BLAME OTHERS FOR THEIR FAILURES: State Representative Steven Xiarhos (R-Barnstable) State Representative Matt Muratore (R-Plymouth) Christopher Lauzon, candidate for the Cape and Islands State Senate district  Susanne Conley, candidate for the Second Barnstable State Representative district Whack-A-Ding KARI MACRAE WHERE WERE YOU DING BAT? LIVING IN RHODE ISLAND!  YOU CLOWNS NEVER WENT TO THE HEARINGS, HAVE NO IDEA OF THE  SURROUNDING ISSUES.....MASS GOP LIARS! THIS WAS JOHN DEATON'S STUPID COMMENT:  excerpt:  “In 2021, the US Army Corps of Engineers said the bridges were obsolete,” Deaton said. “Gov. Baker tried to get federal money. Where was Sen. Warren? We need someone who doesn’t put party above country.”  JOHN DEATON LIED & IGNORED THAT GOV. BAKER'S APPLICATION WAS REJECTED....IT'S PUBLIC RECORD!  NOTHING TO DO WITH SENATOR WARREN! MIDDLEBORO REVIEW 2 Massachusetts GOP Senate candidates....MORE BLABBER, GASLIGHTING, LIES...NEVER FACTS FROM REPUBLICANS! MIDDLEBORO REVIEW 2 2 CAPE COD BRIDGES are owned by the ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.....THEY'RE OLD & FAILED BRIDGES!  VOTERS ARE SMARTER THAN REPUBLICAN DIM WITS GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR... CRYPTO CARPETBAGGER JOHN DEATON VOTED 3 TIMES IN 20 YEARS, NEVER LIVED IN MASSACHUSETTS UNTIL THIS RECENT CHARADE.  Gee, Republican Nit Wits did you notice that there was no FUNDING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE until President Biden & DEMOCRATS passed the INFRASTRUCTURE BILL?  Former Daffy Dude called for its DEFEAT and 30 MAGA DIM WITS genuflected in the SENATE! Must I post the VOTES that are publicly available? It's time for REPUBLICAN CLOWNS to stop promoting LIES!  These GOP DIM WITS whine, complain, criticize....did they attend any of the numerous hearings? They don't even comprehend the complexities involved.  One of the bridges, the BOURNE is a RAILROAD bridge. Surely the Carpetbagger Deaton hasn't figured that out.  The SAGAMORE BRIDGE will be paid for thanks to President Biden and Democrats that approved the legislation.  MIDDLEBORO REVIEW 2 SENATOR WARREN/JOHN DEATON DEBATE MIDDLEBORO REVIEW 2  It's time to STOP REPUBLICAN LIES! I HAVE SAVED MANY MORE COMMENTS REGARDING THE CARPETBAGGING LIAR JOHN DEATON!  MASSGOP: Attorney and cryptocurrency advocate John Deaton will run for US Senate as a Republican for the second straight cycle, and dozens of Republican State Committee members want the party to back him before a full primary. (The Boston Globe – paywall)  MUST read!  WHILE UTILITY SURCHARGES ARE IRRATIONAL, I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO REDUCE THEIR CONSUMPTION!  THERE ARE LOTS OF CREATIVE IDEAS OUT THERE - ONE GUY SAVED HIS BUBBLE WRAP & USED IT TO COVER HIS SLIDING GLASS DOOR - LETS IN LIGHT, BUT STOPS THE COLD!  ENERGY EXPERTS TELL YOU THAT 15% OF YOUR ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION IS LIGHTING, BUT THAT'S NOT THE WHOLE STORY!  LOTS OF GIZMOS CONTINUE TO USE ELECTRICITY WHEN YOU THINK THEY'RE "OFF." wE PUT OUR TV, COMPUTER PERIPHERALS & OTHER GIZMOS ON ELETRIC STRIPS - PROTECTS THEM FROM POWER SURGES AS WELL AS STOPS THEIR ENERGY GUZZLING.  YEARS AGO, WE BOUGHT 2 led bulbs for 2 always on lights, COST $1 EACH. next month, the bill dropped $5 - impressive return on $2 investment.  until recently, 1000bulbs in california was selling ledS FOR ~ $1 EACH, BUT TRUMP'S IRRATIONAL TARIFFS SEEM TO HAVE INCREASED THE COSTS.  each time we replaced a dead appliance, we replaced with the most energy efficient - trump has eliminated the energy star ratings, but consumer report seems to be picking up the slack.  (I AM NOT COMPLAINING SINCE OUR ELECTRIC BILL IS ~ $42 A MONTH & OUR AVERAGE DAILY CONSUMPTION IS ~ 9 kWH) THE ULTIMATE REVENGE IS: REDUCE YOUR CONSUMPTION!  IT'S A CHALLENGE, BUT WE CAN BE CREATIVE & WORK TOGETHER TO REDUCE OUR COSTS! CHINA IS PROMOTING CLEAN ENERGY, REDUCING THEIR CONSUMPTION, CLEANING THEIR ENVIRONMENT & THEIR ECONOMY IS PROSPERING! CHINA SELLS CHEAP SOLAR KITS THAT INCLUDE BATTERY BACKUP.  UTILITIES: A grassroots group of ratepayers frustrated with electric and gas bills is eyeing the 2026 ballot as a way to overhaul how utilities operate in Massachusetts, but the tens of thousands of signatures required poses a steep obstacle. (New Bedford Light)   LOGAN: While an end to the federal government shutdown appears to be drawing closer, Logan International Airport is still feeling the effects of flight cancellations. (CBS Boston)  JUDGE: Former US District Court judge Mark Wolf joined the firm Todd & Weld after resigning the federal bench and warning that the Trump administration poses a threat to an independent judiciary. (Boston Business Journal – paywall)  Reagan-appointed judge warns of ‘existential threat to democracy’ in resignation letter THE HILL ELECTION: Eugenia Schraa Huh wants answers about how unofficial results showed she won a race for Cambridge School Committee only for a city audit to determine the incumbent in fact defeated her. (NBC Boston)

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