Gov. Patrick Asks Municipal Leaders To Back Tax Hikes

Enlarge image

Credit Dwight Sipler

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick urged city and town leaders Friday to support his call for a big tax hike.

Addressing the annual meeting of the Massachusetts Municipal Association in Boston, Governor Patrick appealed for help in making the case for what he called “ growth and opportunity”.  Patrick is proposing  the first increase in unrestricted local aid to cities and towns in four years. Coupled with a proposed hike in education spending, total state aid to municipalities would increase by 5 percent under the governor plan.  But to pay for it, and an ambitious upgrade to the state’s transportation system, Patrick has proposed a tax increase totaling $1.9 billion.   After the speech, Patrick met privately with many mayors.