Mayor Michelle Wu’s commercial tax increase proposal would do significantly more harm than good, disproportionately affecting young adults in Boston. Setting aside the issue of competitiveness, which will be severely impacted if this tax increase ever passes the Legislature, and the fact that Massachusetts is already ranked 49th in business climate and 40th in overall economy, let’s focus on a factor that hasn’t been widely discussed. Young adults, particularly those aged 25-44, are leading the exodus of residents leaving Massachusetts for greener pastures. This age group would bear the brunt of this harmful policy.

One of the biggest issues facing the Commonwealth is affordability. Wages do not keep up with the cost of living, and this is due to many factors, including taxation. But his particular tax increase would make Boston, already unaffordable, even less so.

Consider Katie, a 30-year-old marketing specialist, working for a large corporation in Boston. She’s already struggling to keep up with her rent, student loans, and rising grocery bills. With this proposed tax increase, her company might stagnate her salary even further or worse, lay her off. This is the reality many young professionals in Boston are facing.

Boston currently ranks among the most expensive cities in the nation to live in. This would be manageable if wages were keeping up with inflation; however, they are not. Adding an additional burden on businesses would only stagnate salaries further and potentially lead to layoffs.

While the commercial real estate tax increase bill that was under consideration by the Legislature, aimed to exclude small businesses, it failed to account for the thousands of Bostonians working for large corporations who have already been experiencing layoffs and stagnant wages. Businesses will always adjust their bottom line to maintain profit— they have a responsibility to do so. If they face a proposed shift that increases the commercial tax burden by up to 190%, they will make adjustments that could ultimately impact their employees — the Bostonians who support the city’s economy.

If the mayor’s tax increases were to one day come to fruition, Bostonians who work for large businesses as coordinators, specialists, and secretaries would experience limited financial growth due to companies having to cut costs to maintain profits. Additionally, these businesses will be forced to raise prices for their goods and services. Prices in Boston are high due to the extremely high taxes and stringent regulations businesses must navigate to operate in the city. How can Katie manage to keep up with rising costs when businesses are increasing their prices to adjust for tax hikes, while her salary, due to the same tax increases, remains unchanged?

If these tax increases manage to pass the Legislature next session, the mass exodus from Massachusetts and Boston will be exacerbated, and tax revenues will keep plummeting. At what point will Boston’s City Council stop relying on Bostonians to fund their political policies just to get re-elected? The mayor increased the budget by 8% this fiscal year, and there’s roughly $1 billion in reserves.

The focus must shift in how City Hall operates. Instead of inflating the city budget and pursuing progressive initiatives for political clout, Boston politicians must focus on increasing Bostonians’ incomes and allowing businesses to thrive. It is not a progressive government filled with city initiatives that made Boston what it is today; it is the grit and ingenuity of Bostonians that built this city. We must remind ourselves, Mayor Wu, and the City Council of this truth.

If we want to keep young professionals in Boston, we must create an environment where businesses can thrive and, in turn, support their employees. Mayor Wu’s proposed tax increase is not the way forward. It’s time to prioritize the future of all Bostonians by fostering a competitive, affordable, and vibrant city.

Logan Trupiano is Communications Director of the Massachusetts Republican Party