See also:
New Tax
Legislation (1/16/2004): "Chapter 3 of the Acts of 2004: An
Act Relative to Property Tax Classification in Cities and
Towns"
Questions for discussion:
Property Tax Issues - 2/12/2004
Property Taxes in
Boston - notes from Feb. 12, 2004 ABN meeting
2/12/04
Call or e-mail Mayor Thomas Menino
- Tell him you are concerned about the high and rising residential property tax, which will raise the already high cost of living in Boston, and price out many working families and fixed-income people.
- Ask him what he is doing to ensure that a long-term solution is developed rather than just a series of band-aids.
- Tell him you want him to instruct the City Assessor to provide whatever data the City Council will request in order to hold effective hearings on the issue (as per the hearing proposal filed by Councilor Maura Hennigan.)
- Ask him to encourage all the City Councilors to attend all of the hearings.
- Ask him to provide all information required for the Stateís tax study, detailed in the new law.
e-mail mayor@ci.boston.ma.us
phone 617 635-4500
fax 617 635-4090
Call or e-mail your city councilors (4 at-large, 1 district)
- Tell them you are concerned about the high and rising residential property tax.
- Tell them that, as Mayor Menino said at the State House hearing, the current legislation is a band-aid, and we need a long-term solution.
- Tell them that you expect them to attend the public hearing called by Councilor Hennigan, to sponsor other hearings as needed, to participate fully in exploring the problem, and to take remedial action.
- Tell public officials that this will be a major issue at election time
Attend city and state hearings on the tax issue
- Create "communication trees" to mobilize for city and state hearings, comment periods, and other actions.
- Keep records of participation and actions of city and state officials.
More specific action items will be planned as information becomes available.