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Summary of Question 1

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 2Vi% 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 21/2% 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 ortown, 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 forcompulsory 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 - Hampshire County - Question 1Do 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?

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Hampshire County Results
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City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
28,114
30,134
2,185 60,433
Amherst
 
2,726
8,603
520
11,849
Belchertown
 
1,582
1,650
72
3,304
Chesterfield
 
189
197
15
401
Cummington
 
177
199
23
399
Easthampton
 
4,155
2,855
170
7,180
Goshen
 
134
153
15
302
Granby
 
1,513
832
132
2,477
Hadley
 
1,073
1,171
104
2,348
Hatfield
 
910
777
75
1,762
Middlefield
 
72
103
4
179
Northampton
 
5,725
7,144
381
13,250
Pelham
 
224
342
10
576
Plainfield
 
90
101
9
200
S. Hadley
 
4,779
2,578
434
7,791
Southampton
 
1,174
687
24
1,885
Ware
 
2,480
1,689
145
4,314
Westhampton
 
278
250
13
541
Williamsburg
 
603
565
28
1,196
Worthington
 
230
238
11
479
County Totals
28,114
30,134
2,185 60,433