Editorial: Hiding tax data insults Boston businesses & homeowners

The City’s assessing commissioner Nicholas Ariniello has a message for Boston taxpayers: go to hell.

As homeowners and businesses face the new year with uncertainty over how much their tax bills will be, Ariniello is refusing to share vital data with the officials who have a say in deciding their fiscal fates.

As the Herald reported, Ariniello has refused to provide Department of Revenue-certified data that would shed light on what next year’s tax rates would be for residential and commercial properties.

In a situation that calls for transparency, Ariniello is opting for audacity.

It’s an insult.

He has, however, laid out a tight timeline for state lawmakers to act on Mayor Michelle Wu’s controversial plan to raise commercial tax rates: Dec. 9 for Senate action, Dec. 10 for the governor’s signature and Dec. 11 for a Council vote to set tax rates. This would let the city send out tax bills by the end of the month.

A deadline but no data — how can people make an informed decision? And why not provide the tools needed to do their jobs?

During a Tuesday Council meeting, Councilor Erin Murphy said that councilors “deserve that information” given the rarity of the tax shift they’re being asked to vote on, should the legislation pass and give Boston the authority to tax businesses beyond the 175% state limit for the first time in 20 years.

She’s right, this is huge, and Ariniello is surely aware of the seismic effect this could have on businesses and residential homeowners.

Ariniello wants the Council vote to set tax rates next Wednesday, without knowing the rates, which are subject to change depending on whether the Senate approves the mayor’s tax shift bill. And he wants them to stay in the dark while doing it.

It makes no sense, and it’s a kick in the face to every Bostonian who has to pay these taxes.

State Sen. Nick Collins, a South Boston Democrat, had delayed a Senate vote on the mayor’s tax bill on Monday, in part, because he was awaiting certified valuation data from the city that he was expecting to come from the Council hearing.

“Though city officials refused to share the data on new valuations submitted to the state at today’s Council hearing, they did indicate they anticipate a surplus from the new valuations,” Collins said in a statement. “Surplus funds should be directed toward residential tax relief, particularly for our seniors. In the interest of transparency and fiscal responsibility, the city needs to share their valuation data before action is taken on their plans to increase taxes.”

Transparency is Job. 1, or should be, and the fact that Ariniello is playing keep-away with vital data raises a red flag.

Wu has said that the legislation is designed to fend off a 28% quarterly and 14% annual tax hike for homeowners.

This isn’t the time or place for spitballing the numbers. The Council is doing its part in trying to get a handle on the situation, they have to answer to constituents who want to know what their tax bill could be.

And for that, the Council needs data.

Ariniello works for the City, and the City works for its residents and businesses.

Release the numbers, now.

Editorial cartoon by Steve Kelley (Creators Syndicate)

 

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