Towns respond to cuts with new revenue

Faced with declining revenues, cuts to local aid and rising costs, many Massachusetts towns are increasing hotel and meals taxes as well as overriding Proposition 2 1/2 to raise property taxes.

In Rockland, residents voted 2-1 in favor of a Proposition 2 1/2 override to build an $86 million high school. Marilyn Werkheiser, a member of the Rockland School Committee, told the Boston Globe that people are willing to invest in the future of their town. referring to the weak economy.

“I think people really understand the need to do these things [increase taxes] to make our town better.’’

At town meetings in Hudson, Wellesley and Bellmont, voters raised meals taxes. Town officials in Hudson said the .75 percent increase on restaurants would save town jobs. While some said that any increase in taxes would be unfair to restaurants, others noted that a .75 percent increase would mean just 8 cent more on a $10 check.

Below is a list of towns that have passed meals and/or hotel taxes:

AMHERST       
ANDOVER       
AUBURN        
BEDFORD       
BLANDFORD     
BOSTON        
BREWSTER      
BROOKLINE     
CAMBRIDGE     
CHELMSFORD    
CHICOPEE      
DARTMOUTH     
DEERFIELD     
DUDLEY        
EASTON        
EVERETT       
FRAMINGHAM    
FRANKLIN      
GILL          
HADLEY        
HATFIELD      
MEDFORD       
MELROSE       
MILLIS        
MILTON        
NANTUCKET     
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH
NORTH READING 
NORTHAMPTON   
ORANGE        
PALMER        
PLAINVILLE    
RAYNHAM       
REHOBOTH      
SAUGUS        
SHREWSBURY    
SOMERVILLE    
SOUTHBRIDGE   
SPRINGFIELD   
STURBRIDGE    
SUNDERLAND    
TAUNTON       
TYNGSBOROUGH  
WEBSTER       
WELLFLEET     
WEST BOYLSTON 
WEST SPRINGFIELD
WINTHROP      
WORCESTER