MMA strongly supports Patrick/Murray Municipal Partnership Act
On behalf of the cities and towns of the Commonwealth, the MMA commends Gov. Deval Patrick and Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray for filing legislation today that would empower local communities by providing management strategies and flexibility necessary to reinvigorate Massachusetts cities and towns and improve the quality of life for residents.
The Municipal Partnership Act offers a variety of initiatives that will allow communities to control their future by diversifying their revenue base by levying local option taxes that would generate revenues to provide senior citizens property tax relief; by controlling pension costs; by managing health care costs; by removing the archaic practice of home rule petitions that restrict a community’s ability to grow their local economies; and by closing tax loopholes that allow telecommunications companies to avoid paying their fair share of local property taxes.
“Massachusetts local government leaders applaud Gov. Patrick and Lt. Gov. Murray for their commitment to our cities and towns,” said MMA Executive Director Geoff Beckwith. “There are serious fiscal problems ahead for both state and local government. Gov. Patrick and Lt. Gov. Murray realize that the state must provide real reform that frees communities to serve their citizens, protect local property taxpayers, and grow our economy.”
The Municipal Partnership Act also creates a commission to study the expansion of state technology at local levels, creates incentives to encourage best fiscal practices and regionalization of services, increases flexibility for municipal borrowing, streamlines the abatement process, extends the soon-to-expire property tax classification rules and confirms existing municipal authority to impose trash collection fees.
On Feb. 14, the administration filed an Executive Order creating a Municipal Affairs Coordinated Cabinet that ensures that all state agencies share resources and a common vision to build a strong partnership with cities and towns.
“By these two actions, the Patrick/Murray administration has signaled their commitment to our cities and towns that they are equal partners,” Beckwith said. “The administration has recognized the fiscal and operating constraints that cities and towns have faced over the last several years and have said that the policies of state government relative to its partner must improve.”
Written by MMA Executive Director Geoff Beckwith
