Photo: Jeromey Russ/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Boston homeowners are looking at another big jump in property taxes next year. Mayor Michelle Wu has been asking the state legislature to help move a bill forward that would temporarily offset that cost and pass it on to commercial properties.
Right now, the bill is stuck because the Senate won’t file the paperwork on its end.
“I’m not sure I can remember that a bill just wasn’t admitted. There are 9000 bills that have been introduced, and I’m betting that all of them have been admitted and are sitting in committee and will have a public hearing,” said State Representative Consalvo. “So, let’s just do that.”
Rep. Consalvo filed the bill in February, a few weeks past the filing date for the state legislature. He introduced it in March and got overwhelming support in the House. Since then, it's stalled, as the Senate hasn’t admitted it to the State.
Senate President Karen Spilka’s office said that she is committed to finding solutions to make housing affordable.
“The Senate President will discuss this bill with members, as she does with all pieces of legislation. The Senate remains committed to working with stakeholders across Massachusetts to find solutions to increase housing affordability and drive down costs for residents and families.”
Time is of the essence, however, as the legislative session is only two years long, and they are already halfway through.
“It's been 8 months that 8 months that our taxpayers have been in limbo,” he said.
Rep. Consalvo said he isn’t looking for the Senate to take up the bill, he is just looking for the paperwork to be filed correctly so that he can continue to advance it through committee and, most importantly, have a hearing.
“In a time where debate is being stifled on the national level, let's let this have its day in court.”
The legislature is on break until the new year, where the push is to have the bill admitted and move forward with the work to adjust the tax rate. The rate this year is going to increase by 13% for single-family homeowners in the city, an average of $785, according to Mayor Wu’s office.
Rep. Consalvo said that they had an agreement last session, and they just ran out of time. He doesn’t want that to happen again, as he believes this is a good bill.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Amanda Keane (@AmandaKeaneTV) reports.