This paper uses survey data collected during the 2 weeks following the November 4, 1980, election to answer questions concerning how local public education should be funded in the wake of the passing of Proposition 2 1/2, a measure that requires high tax rate cities and towns to reduce property tax levies by at least 15 percent per year until they reach the maximum allowable rate of 2 1/2 percent of fair market value. Communities with low tax rates are allowed to raise property taxes but by no more than 2 1/2 percent per year. In four sections, the link between views about education and support for tax limitation are reviewed. Section 1 decribes the provision and financing of education in Massachusetts. Section 2 disentangles the effects of education-related motivations from other factors influencing the votes on Proposition 2 1/2. Section 3 describes how views about education are distributed across various subgroups of the population. Section 4 summarizes the findings, which showed that Massachusett's household heads were relatively satisfied with the level of public education services; however, they felt that the passage of Proposition 2 1/2 would lead to greater control by voters over public spending. Extensive appendixes present the voting model; statistics on voters' views of fiscal issues; and their expectations of the effects of passage of the proposition. (JAM)