Other Town Votes Show Over-Rides Are Unpopular

Cambridge today becomes the first major city to consider over-riding Proposition 2 1/2 but several town have in the last month voted on proposals to modify the property tax cutting measure. Two thirds of these referenda have failed.

Voters in 20 local elections since March I have demonstrated that, one and-a-half years after they endorsed the tax-limiting proposal, few have changed their minds on the issue. Nearly every town allowing change this year originally opposed the measure in November 1980 and every locality rejecting the relict this year supported Proposition 2 1/2 17 months ago.

Resolution

After Proposition 2 1/2 passed a three-to-two majority state wide the legislature voted to increase and to cities and towns, and to allow municipalities to avoid a revenue pinch by casing some of the restrictions in local balloting.

Local governments have four different options in asking voters for more money than otherwise allowed by Prop 2 1/2. Some municipalities placed on the ballot money requests for specific outlays, such as land purchase and building maintenance, some have asked voters to modify the terms of bonded indebtedness and others, like Cambridge have asked for a partial or total over ride of the tax cuts mandated by Proposition 2 1/2.

Most towns requesting some sort of over ride have done so out of dire financial need, and rejection by voters may favor the severs cuts of employees and programs In Canton, where voters defeated a partial over-ride referendum by a three to two margin. Executive Secretary Gerard C. Kelly said yesterday. "We are hurt very badly. "As a result of the no vote. "We are not spending a dime for road management," he said.

Braintree voters rejected a bond indebtedness proposal four-to-one, refusing to give officials an opportunity to preserve jobs in schools.

Some community leaders however although feeling the effects of reduced revenues, have decided not to opt for an escape, arguing that over-ride measures defy the spirit of the law.

Newton originally defeated Proposition 2 1/2 and City Manager Thomas Lee says the city has "a very tight budget with fiscal constraints." But the city government will not ask for an over-ride because "there is a major need for tax reform. If enough cities over-ride that will take the pressure off the legislature."

Some key state organizations have not taken a stance on the over-rides, James Segal director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, said that his organization, which represents city and town officials, is neither encouraging nor discouraging the local initiatives.

Barbara Anderson, head of Citizens for Limited Taxation which sponsored Proposition 2 1/2 said that she sees "no problem with communities trying to over ride it they think it's necessary."

Aides to Gov. Edward J King say he is also neutral on the issue of over rides, but critics of his recent local aid proposal say he is deliberately trying to discourage voters from supporting changes. Earlier this week, King suggested an increase in aid to cities losing big from forced cutbacks, but also recommended that municipalities accepting over rides receive less or none of that new state aid.

State Sen. George Bachrach yesterday accused King of trying to contuse Cambridge voters and argued that aid should not depend on whether cities are willing to tax themselves.

But King aide Richard Stanton defended the plan saying. "We are distributing limited resources."