Small Property Owners Association

A Big Win for Common Sense: Updated Media Links on Tax Plan Defeat

By Small Property Owners Association Members

Since our last update, the serious statewide implications of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's tax shift plan led to its demise. Thanks to your help and our advocacy, the state senators saw that the legislature normalizing the use of the home rule petition to work around the public process of a tax override would have set a bad precedent for all municipalities in Massachusetts. While refusing to trim her bloated budget, the faulty calculations used by Mayor Wu to justify this tax hike on the already troubled commercial sector, as well as Boston residents, further sealed its fate.

This is a big win for SPOA and those who believe in fiscal sanity. We would like to thank the following elected officials who resisted political pressure to vote against this dangerous bill in their respective chambers.

Massachusetts Senate

  • Sen. Nick Collins (D)
  • Sen. William Brownsberger (D)
  • Sen. Susan Moran (D)
  • Sen. Peter Durant (R)

Massachusetts House

  • Rep. Dave DeCoste (R)

Boston City Council

  • Councilor Ed Flynn (D)

Updated Media Coverage

  • Boston Herald. "Joint Revenue Committee chair speaks out on Boston Mayor's tax shift bill ahead of third Senate appearance." December 9, 2024.
  • MassLive. "State senator blocks Boston tax shift vote for third time Monday." December 9, 2024.
  • State House News Service. "New Valuations Shift Calculus On Boston Tax Bill." December 5, 2024.
  • The Boston Globe. "Amid contentious debate, Mass. Senate punts vote on Wu's property tax proposal to Thursday." December 2, 2024.
  • Boston Herald. "After delay, Boston Mayor Wu's tax shift plan clears the House, advances to Senate." December 1, 2024.
  • Boston 25 News. "Small property owners urge Mass. Senators to Reject Boston commercial property tax increase." December 1, 2024.
  • Dorchester Reporter. "House approves Boston tax bill, sends on to Senate." November 26, 2024.
  • 7News Boston WHDH. "House vote sends Boston tax bill to Senate." November 26, 2024.
  • NBC10 Boston. "Boston property tax bill moves to state Senate." November 25, 2024.
  • NBC10 Boston. "Mayor Wu's Boston tax plan blocked by Republican lawmaker." November 22, 2024.
  • WBUR News. "Republican lawmaker delays vote on Boston property tax shift plan." November 22, 2024.
  • WBZ NewsRadio. "Boston Tax Bill Hits Snag In Massachusetts House." November 21, 2024.
  • GBH News. "Déjà vu as Mayor Wu seeks authority to temporarily tax commercial properties more." November 20, 2024.
  • Boston Business Journal. "With days to go, Wu's property tax bill remains in limbo." November 20, 2024.
  • Boston 25 News. "Mass. lawmakers urged to stop Boston Mayor Wu's commercial tax increase." November 17, 2024.
  • Boston 25 News. "Wu commercial tax increase opposed by Small Property Owners Association." November 6, 2024.
  • Banker & Tradesman. "City Council Backs Boston Property Tax Deal." October 30, 2024.

Thank you all again for helping us achieve this significant victory for common sense and sound fiscal policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's tax shift plan and why was it defeated?

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's tax shift plan was defeated due to concerns about its statewide implications and the potential to set a negative precedent for other Massachusetts municipalities. The proposal also faced criticism for its faulty calculations and impact on both commercial property and residents.

Why is the defeat of the tax plan considered a big win?

The defeat of Mayor Wu's tax shift plan is considered a significant victory for the Small Property Owners Association (SPOA) and proponents of fiscal responsibility. It signifies a win for common sense in managing municipal finances.

How does this decision impact the public process for tax overrides in Massachusetts?

The legislature's decision not to pass the tax shift plan prevents the normalization of using home rule petitions to bypass public input on tax overrides. This protects the integrity of the public process for all cities and towns in Massachusetts.

Which elected officials opposed Mayor Wu's tax shift plan?

Several elected officials, including Senators Nick Collins, William Brownsberger, Susan Moran, and Peter Durant, along with Representative Dave DeCoste and Councilor Ed Flynn, resisted political pressure and voted against the tax increase. Their support was crucial in blocking the plan.

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