Dispelling the Myth of Home Rule: Local Power in Greater Boston

The public forum to explore a new study by the Rappaport Institute by David Barron, Gerald Frug, and Rick Su of Harvard Law School on March 16, 2004 at the Boston Foundation was a great success. Over 60 state and local officials attended a panel discussion that included in addition to the authors, Professor Barry Bluestone of Northeastern University, former state senator Patricia McGovern, Geoffrey Beckwith of the Massachusetts and Robert Ritchie of the Attorney General's Office.

Home rule lurks behind every important concern of Greater Boston. Local policies on a wide variety of issues – finance and management, land use, housing, and education – depend on the state grant of home rule.

Paul Grogan at lectern introducing "Dispelling the Myth of Home Rule." Panelists from left to right, David Barron, Rick Su, Barry Bluestone, Patricia McGovern, Robert Ritchie, Geoff Beckwith and Gerald Frug.

But real local authority in Massachusetts is restricted. Cities and towns have little discretion over taxes, fees, and borrowing, and only fragmented control over their public schools. State government imposes a number of unfunded mandates. State law supersedes local law on all issues, forcing localities to seek special state legislation on matters of immediate concern.

Based on interviews with local officials in the 101 towns and cities that make up Greater Boston, the study by David Barron, Gerald Frug, and Rick Su argues one way to open up the possibilities for regional policy is to take the local desire for home rule more seriously. Panelists discussed the study's findings and proposals for reform as well as other ways that state law could be changed to enhance local authority for the benefit of the region as a whole.

This important work provides a much-needed blueprint to the most fundamental issue of state and local governance in Massachusetts.

• Dispelling the Myth of Home Rule: Local Power in Greater Boston (entire book-length report)
• Publisher's Note
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Chapter 1 - The Legal Structure of Home Rule in Massachusetts
• Chapter 2 - Home Rule in Action: Revenue and Expenditures
• Chapter 3 - Home Rule in Action: Land Use
• Chapter 4 - Home Rule in Action: Education
• Chapter 5 - Thinking As A Region
• Appendices
• About the Authors and Notes