Advertisement
Boston's Morning Newsletter
Boston's property tax time crunch gets tighter after Senate delay
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
It’s Giving Tuesday, and any contribution you make to WBUR today will get a 50% match. Donate here to support independent journalism.
Now, to the news:
Try again later: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s temporary property tax shift plan is facing headwinds — again — on Beacon Hill. State Sen. Nick Collins, a fellow Bostonian and Democrat, used a procedural move yesterday to keep the Senate from voting on the bill until Thursday at the earliest, putting the city in a tricky situation.
- Why it matters: Even if the Senate does pass the closely watched bill Thursday, Boston is under a major time crunch. Wu has said it must be signed this week in order to affect Jan. 1 tax bills — and prevent big tax spikes for Boston homeowners.
- What Collins is saying: WBUR’s Walter Wuthmann reports Collins wants more information about Boston’s budget situation from the City Council’s annual tax classification hearing today. “I’m opposed to the idea of doing something without the facts,” Collins told Walt. “And I think [Tuesday] hopefully we’ll get that, at least from somebody, DOR or the city, to understand what our budget gap is, and how that can be mitigated.”
- The view from City Hall: A spokesperson for Wu’s office said yesterday was “the first time we are hearing about the Senator’s specific concerns,” despite many months of outreach to senators on the issue. “We will continue trying to reach him to understand the information he is seeking,” the spokesperson said.
- The big picture: It remains unclear if the Senate — which blocked the initial version of Wu’s proposal — will pass the new version. While Senate President Karen Spilka had said she was pleased by the compromise that Wu reached with local business leaders, not all leaders in the chamber are on board. State Sen. Susan Moran, the co-chair of the Legislature’s revenue committee, came out against the proposal yesterday, arguing it could lead to other communities seeking similar changes to their tax code. “There’s no doubt that how we pursue this issue will set a precedent for municipalities across the state,” Moran said.
Advertisement
On the auction block: Barbara Lynch is holding an estate sale this Saturday in Gloucester, weeks after the city of Boston sued the celebrity chef over a massive unpaid tax bill and the news she has decided to close her remaining Boston restaurants.
- Sneak peek: The webpage for the estate sale features hundreds of photos of what will be up for grabs, including art (so much art), furniture, old chef uniforms and even a moped.
Main Street makeover: Looking for a new home for your business? The city of Medford will give you up to $10,000 to fill one of its vacant storefronts. The five-figure tax credits are part of Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn’s push to fill a handful of storefronts that have been vacant for over a year. Whether it’s a restaurant, salon or bank, it doesn’t matter. “We want to see every single location filled,” Lungo-Koehn told WBUR’s Amy Sokolow. The program comes after Medford offered businesses $5,000 to upgrade their facades.
- Scout out the locations: A city map shows there are 10 vacant storefronts across Medford’s six business districts.
Last call: Redemption Rock Brewing in Worcester is shutting down for good. The brewery’s owners said Sunday they have not been able to grow the business enough over the last six years. Their last day is slated to be Dec. 29. “We hope you’ll come and celebrate with us as often as you can, or at least for one last beer,” they wrote in a blog post.
- In other news: Cambridge cocktail bar Brick & Mortar is closing in the coming weeks, but will reopen early next year as an Italian aperitivo bar, according to Boston Magazine.
P.S.— If you’re in the charitable mood today, be careful not to give your hard-earned money to scammers. MassPIRG legislative director Deirdre Cummings shared three tips to avoid charity scams: check that the quality of a nonprofit’s website passes “muster”; use credit cards and checks, not debit cards; and steer clear of organizations that ask for payments via cryptocurrencies or gift cards. NPR has more tips here to make the most of your Giving Tuesday donation.
