First, Malden. Next, South Hadley? The WSJ has a big story on how a 50 percent property tax hike proposal in South Hadley is “tearing this Massachusetts town apart.” And they’re saying the South Hadley vote may well be a ‘canary in the coal mine’ as other local governments, here and across the nation, grapple with huge deficits caused by inflation and the end of pandemic-era spending, as the Journal reports. … 

I’m definitely sensing widespread anger and frustration out there about rising property taxes. It’s a major affordability issue for many, right up there with rising gas and food prices etc. … 

I know there’s a lot of reasons for local government budget shortfalls. But one largely unmentioned factor, as I’ve noticed in my own neck of the 495 woods , is how young white-collar professionals who can no longer afford homes in eastern Mass. are increasingly moving into previously somewhat affordable towns in central and western Mass. – and expecting towns to up their school-system games, ASAP. There’s an unspoken culture clash at work. It’s not just parents vs non-parents and young vs old. It’s also more affluent vs non-affluent and often college grads vs non-college grads.