Working with our Cities and Towns

Jamie recognizes how tight local budgets are, which is why fighting for more local aid from the state has been his top priority.  He believes that communities shouldn’t have to face the difficult choice between raising property taxes or cutting cops and teachers.

In this tough fiscal climate, cuts to local aid (and many other vital programs and services) are unavoidable - but Jamie is working to make sure these cuts are as small as possible. That’s one of the reasons Jamie believes our state needs to look for new sources of revenue, rather than balancing our annual budget by cutting critical aid to our cities and towns. Learn more about Jamie’s views on Revenue here.

Jamie also supports giving communities the tools they need to balance their budget, including a statewide meals and hotel taxes, or, alternatively, authorizing a 1 percent local option meals and hotel tax, and closing the telecommunications loophole. A local option meals tax would allow cities and towns to, if they choose, levy a 1 percent tax - or $1 on every $100 spent - on meals and hotel stays. Repealing the telecommunications loophole would allow cities and towns to collect property taxes on land used for telephone poles, switching equipment and wires - bringing in millions of dollars in revenue across the state. These are two commonsense ways to help our communities pay for vital local services with a minimal impact on consumers.