[Pearls Before Swine]

In Massachusetts property taxes are restricted to 2.5% increases each year. The way the tax man has around that is too increase the values, and constantly reassess property.

The valuation is supposed to approximate market value, and with the hot RE market of the last few years, the tax man has done exactly that. The other way, practiced in a number of the well-off suburbs, is to pass over-rides for the "emergency" budget items that seem to crop up more often than not. They usually pass: "Its for the schools -- its for the children and it keeps our property values up." Maybe so, but more efficient use of funds doesn't seem to ever be the preferred solution.

[Go Gordon]

pass over-rides for the "emergency" budget items that seem to crop up more often than not.

With the state's population on the decline, there are less people to pay taxes. The natural trend will be for taxes to continue to escalate, compounding and increasing the exodus.