Rep. Jay Kaufman's Open House Series

State Rep.Jay Kaufman's award-winning public policy forum, "OPEN HOUSE," continues with another look at taxes, specifically the Property Tax.

The forum will be held on Thursday, Feb. 10, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Lexington Depot, 13 Depot Square, in Lexington Center. This month's "Open House" forum brings together three of the nation's foremost experts on property taxes.

Daphne A. Kenyon is an economist, former professor and chair of the Department of Economic at Simmons College, a consultant, and a visiting fellow at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy in Cambridge. 

Richard Dye is a public finance expert and professor in the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois. 

And our own Peter Enrich teaches state and local tax policy at Northeastern University's School of Law. Together, they will share their expertise and explore what's working and what can be improved in the way property taxes are defined and managed in the Commonwealth.

Ever since the earliest civilizations, property taxes have played a key role in the financing of public services. In Massachusetts today, property taxes fund the lion's share of local services (public education, public health and welfare, police and fire protection, etc.) in most of the Commonwealth's cities and towns. But our property tax system is complex and controversial, with caps, differential assessments of property value, and special discounts.

As with every forum, audience participation is encouraged and questions and comments from the floor will shape the discussion.