History of the Underride

The under-ride was first seen in Amesbury in 2001 when Councilor Tom Iacobucci submitted legislation to schedule a rare Proposition 2 _ “UNDERride” vote, to reduce Town’s tax levy by $1.5 million (legislation passed; underride lost at ballot box by only 13 votes).

The initiative was reintroduced in 2007. On July 3, At-Large Municipal Councilor Donna McClure filed a bill to put a $1.5 million underride before Amesbury voters at the November 6 election. The bill was co-sponsored by District 1 councilor, Michelle Thone.

At the September 11th meeting the Council agreed to reduce the underride amount to $1 million, based on a recommendation from the finance committee. Ultimately this vote was delayed as a result of an objection by Council Ann Connolly-King and moved to the September 24 meeting, where the Council finally agreed to send it to the ballot.

According to figures provided by the state Department of Revenue, only 14 communities have voted on a Proposition 21/2 underride - a reduction in property taxes - through 2005. In contrast, almost every one of the 351 cities and towns has sought to raise taxes through overrides and debt exclusions.

Underrides have been voted on about 20 times over the past two decades; in contrast, almost 2,800 tax increases in the form of overrides and debt exclsions have been sought. Among the communities that have voted on an underride were Ayer, Dennis, Gill, Groveland, Holland, Lancester,Norton, Norton, Orleans, Plymouth, Sandwich, Shelburne and Upton.