Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 173: Governor's Commission on Property Tax Relief

Date: 01/22/1980
Issuer: Edward J. King
Mass Register: No. 195
Amended by: Executive Order 182

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, it is the concern of every citizen that property taxes in Massachusetts be lowered in a fair and equitable manner, recognizing that the burden of such taxes falls most heavily on homeowners; and

WHEREAS, the legislation is being enacted to slow the growth of local spending and reliance upon the property tax as a source of local revenues;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Edward J. King, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the statutes of this Commonwealth, do hereby ORDER AND DIRECT:

1. There is hereby created a Commission to be known as the Governor's Commission on Property Tax Relief, to consist of nine members. The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Governor, but shall include a designee of the Speaker of the House, a designee of the President of the Senate, the Secretary of Administration and Finance, who shall serve as Chairman, and the Undersecretary for Administration and Finance. The Governor shall designate a Vice Chairman from among the members.

2. The Commission shall meet at regular intervals and may hold hearings in various parts of the Commonwealth.

3. The Commission may form sub-committees from its membership and may call upon task forces from outside its own membership for research and recommendations related to the functions of the Commission.

4. The Commission shall have the following responsibilities:

(a) To recommend the most effective ways of implementing property tax relief.

(b) To examine assessment procedures in the cities and towns to assure that homeowners are treated as fairly as possible.

(c) To determine means of distributing state aid to cities and towns now and in the future so as to provide an incentive for cities and towns to live within property and spending limitations that are and will be in place from time to time.

(d) To determine how the overall tax burdens now upon the citizens of the Commonwealth can be more equitably shared; and

(e) To determine how to utilize the tax raising powers of the Commonwealth to stimulate the creation of jobs and the attraction of new industry essential to our economic base.

5. All state departments and agencies shall cooperate with the Commission in its activities.

6. The Commission shall make its first interim report to me no later than August 15, 1980 and its second interim report no later than December 1, 1980.

7. This Executive Order shall continue in effect until amended, superseded or terminated by subsequent Executive Order.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 22nd day of January, in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine-hundred and eighty and of the independence of the United States of America two-hundred and four.

EDWARD J. KING
GOVERNOR
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY
Secretary of the Commonwealth

Contact   for No. 173: Governor's Commission on Property Tax Relief

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback