What is Proposition 2 1/2?
In 1982, the people of Massachusetts through an initiative petition amended the Massachusetts Constitution by providing that this levy could only increase by 2 1/2 percent each year, plus the amount of "new growth" in the community. Proposition places restraints on the amount of money raised by the town and how much the levy can be increased from year-to-year. It provides the town with the annual increases in their levy limits of 2 1/2 percent over the previous year's levy plus an additional amount based the valuation of certain new construction and other allowable growth (i.e. new Personal Property accounts) that is not the result of property revaluation. This is known as "New Growth". Proposition 2 1/2 does not mean that one's property value cannot increase more than 2 1/2 percent each year. Historically speaking, under Proposition 2 1/2 taxpayers can expect a levy increase of a minimum of 2 1/2 percent each year since its inception.

Show All Answers

1. What does the Assessor do?
2. What doesn't the Assessor do?
3. What is the tax levy?
4. What is Proposition 2 1/2?
5. How is your assessment determined?
6. How can my taxes increase?