The Media Covers SPOA's Opposition to Boston Tax Shift Plan
The press recently covered SPOA's state house testimony against the Boston tax shift proposal, H.5099, on November 20, 2024. After the bill hit a couple of hurdles in the House of Representatives, where it eventually passed, it landed in the Senate, where consideration of the bill was tabled until Thursday, December 5. The media covered SPOA's response to this development as well. SPOA's position was noted in State House News Service, Boston Herald, The Boston Globe, WGBH, and Banker & Tradesman, among other outlets.
SPOA remains deeply concerned about the effect this bill would have on small businesses in Boston and throughout Massachusetts, while eroding a key provision of Proposition 2 ½, which protects all of us from over-taxation.
Instead of trimming her budget for efficiency, Mayor Wu wants to impose a tax increase on Boston property owners when they can least afford it — especially owners in the commercial sector who are already struggling with empty buildings.
By exempting the tax safeguards established under Proposition 2 ½, other communities outside of Boston will likely rush to the legislature to ask for the same exemption. How soon will it be before Cambridge, Somerville, and other cities and towns demand the same deal? This poses a major threat to all property owners in our state, whether they own property in Boston or other parts of Massachusetts.
There is still time to make your voices heard, if you have not done so already. You can contact your state senators to express your concerns by using the following link:
https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
For coverage of SPOA's testimony at the Massachusetts State House, you can refer to the link below from State House News Service.
For coverage of SPOA's response after the bill made its way to the Senate, you can refer to the links below from Boston Herald, The Boston Globe, and NBC Boston.
After delay, Boston Mayor Wu’s tax shift plan clears the House, advances to Senate
For a more comprehensive menu of media coverage, you can refer to the following list:
https://whdh.com/news/house-vote-sends-boston-tax-bill-to-senate/
https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/11/22/boston-home-rule-tax-plan-vote-blocked
https://bankerandtradesman.com/council-backs-shift-in-boston-property-tax-structure/
We thank everyone from SPOA who advocated against this proposal and we encourage others to continue this advocacy by contacting your state senators today to oppose this dangerous proposal.
