Overview
The Division of Local Mandates (DLM) was established by Proposition 2½, an initiative to limit property tax increases, in order to determine the financial impacts of proposed or existing state laws, regulations, and rules on cities and towns. Proposition 2½ limits a city or town’s authority to raise real estate and personal property taxes.
The Local Mandate Law, c. 29, § 27C of the Massachusetts General Laws (M.G.L.), generally provides that post-1980 laws, regulations, or rules that impose new service or cost obligations on cities, towns, regional school districts, or educational collaboratives and meet certain thresholds shall be effective only if locally accepted or fully funded by the Commonwealth. Any protected party aggrieved by such a law, regulation, or rule may petition DLM for a determination of whether the law, regulation, or rule constitutes a mandate and to make a cost determination of the state funding necessary to sustain a mandate. That determination is shared with the Executive and Legislative branches of the government for their consideration.
In 1984, the Massachusetts General Court expanded DLM’s powers of review by authorizing DLM to examine any state law or regulation that has a significant local cost impact, regardless of whether it satisfies the more technical standards under the Local Mandate Law. This statute is codified as M.G.L. c. 11, § 6B. As a result of this law, DLM releases reports known as “municipal impact studies” or “6B reports,” which examine various aspects of state law that may impact municipalities.
Through these functions, DLM works to ensure that state policy is sensitive to local fiscal realities so that cities and towns can maintain autonomy in setting municipal budget priorities.