Waltham, MA – In a deeply concerning interview with GBH, Governor Maura Healey signaled openness to overturning Proposition 2½ – a longstanding safeguard that protects homeowners and taxpayers from unchecked local property tax increases.

Leading Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy strongly criticized the Governor’s remarks, reaffirming his unequivocal commitment to protecting Proposition 2½ as Governor.

“Let me be perfectly clear: When I’m Governor, Proposition 2½ is staying. Period,” said Kennealy. “Our cities and towns are struggling because state aid has not kept pace with inflation – Maura Healey’s answer is to raise your taxes to pay for her own overspending. Whether it’s undoing decades of taxpayer safeguards or introducing the Municipal ‘Tax Hike’ Act, Governor Healey continues to signal she’s not serious about making life more affordable for residents. That’s unacceptable. As someone who has served in local government as a Finance Committee member and at the state level as a Cabinet Secretary, I’ve worked closely with municipal leaders across Massachusetts. I understand the challenges our cities and towns are facing and I’m prepared to fix the state budget. I won’t push the cost of Beacon Hill’s failures onto taxpayers.”

Kennealy emphasized that Proposition 2½ has served as a critical safeguard for Massachusetts families for over 40 years, preventing homeowners from being priced out of their communities due to runaway property tax hikes.

“Beacon Hill doesn’t have a revenue problem – it has a spending problem,” Kennealy continued. “Eliminating Proposition 2 1/2 would be a deathblow for those looking to live in an affordable Massachusetts. Instead of asking working families and seniors to pay more, we need a government that respects taxpayers, restores discipline to the budget, and ensures state aid actually reaches our cities and towns.”

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