Biz Groups Waver on Boston Tax Deal
Business organizations urged Beacon Hill legislators to pause approval of a new property tax structure raising rates on commercial properties in Boston following the release of new assessment data.
Business organizations urged Beacon Hill legislators to pause approval of a new property tax structure raising rates on commercial properties in Boston following the release of new assessment data.
A Boston senator delayed action on a controversial home rule petition for the second time this week, pushing consideration off after new data emerged about the city’s property tax outlook.
Boston City Hall’s assessing chief on Tuesday voiced an ever-tightening timeline for Beacon Hill to act on the city’s property tax plan, while also declining to share data that some skeptical officials have said could be key to moving the needle on the controversial bill.
A senator from South Boston delayed action Monday on a controversial, time-sensitive Boston property tax reclassification bill, which is now on ice until after the deadline for action recommended by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.
Has Boston Mayor Michelle Wu managed to unite real estate developers and neighborhood activists against her with pending tax increases on homeowners and the White Stadium redevelopment?
The House of Representatives on Monday approved the city of Boston’s request to temporarily reconfigure the way it splits property taxes between commercial and residential taxpayers.
Back at the State House seeking approval for a time-sensitive plan to temporarily alter the division of property tax burden between commercial and residential owners, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu found herself Wednesday explaining and defending her administration’s approach to budgeting.
Next time it may not be so easy for Boston’s mayor. And given current market trends, not only will there almost certainly be a next time, and it won’t be long in coming, either.
The deal between Mayor Michelle Wu and four business groups will see commercial property tax rates rise, but not by as much as previously feared.
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn dramatically scuppered attempts to bring a last-minute compromise on city commercial property tax rates up for a vote Wednesday afternoon. Councilors plan to meet Friday to take another vote.
Boston commercial property tax rates will be going up next year to help ease homeowners’ tax bills, but not by as much and not for as long as business groups had originally feared.
A business coalition offered a compromise deal Friday that would have seen property taxes on commercial buildings rise, but by less than what Boston’s mayor wanted.
Gone unnoticed amid all the heated debate are signs that the underlying problem – the decline in office building values – may be even more serious than first thought.
The good news is that Boston’s 2025 tax revenue crisis may not be as bad as some have feared. The bad news is office values may have further to fall.
Updated assessment data from Boston City Hall shows a smaller projected increase in residential property taxes in 2025, but Mayor Michelle Wu is still lobbying for legislation shifting a larger portion of the tax levy onto commercial properties.