Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON - (WBZ NewsRadio) — Some of those screams you may hear could be coming from Boston residents opening up their new property tax bills.
After Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's tax proposal to shift the burden of Boston's property taxes away from homeowners failed on Beacon Hill last month, residents are seeing tax hikes of more than 10 percent.
To try and get some tax relief to those homeowners, the mayor has introduced a residential tax relief package.
But for now, residents are having sticker shock over their fiscal year 2025 third quarter tax bills that have some residents seeing hundreds or even thousands of dollars added to their annual property taxes.
Karen Jou of Brighton isn't alone being in a state of shock over the new bills. "I saw what the bill was, and I couldn't believe it," she said.
Her tax increase is in the neighborhood of $600, not too bad considering some property owners have a tax increase annually in the thousands of dollars.
One of the biggest reasons for the city's budget shortfall is that Boston is facing declining commercial property tax revenue.
Since the pandemic, working remotely has dropped demand for office space.
And many businesses shut down during the pandemic.
Jou works downtown and sees the pandemic's impact. "If you walk around Downtown Crossing, every other store is closed," Jou said.
Renters too will pay more for rent as property owners will pass on their tax increases.
Mayor Wu’s residential tax relief package now goes to the Boston City Council for approval before heading to the State House for legislative consideration.
WBZ NewsRadio's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.