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Boston Policy Institute
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Boston Policy Institute, Inc is a non-profit corporation focused on providing non-partisan information and in-depth analysis about the issues facing MA & Boston. Learn more at bostonpolicyinstitute.org!
If the allegations in this lawsuit are true, then commercial values have dropped even more than those state-certified numbers. That means different revenue #'s for affected years' budgets & higher tax bills for residential property owners. #mapoli #bospoli
December 17, 2025 at 9:11 PM
FITZGERALD: Um, do we have anyone on either panel that is going to advocate for the other side of this argument, chair?

DURKAN: No. But I think my colleagues are doing a great job at that.

It is at the transcript's 59:58 mark:
#bospoli #mapoli
app.legislata.com/posts/269162...
Legislata
Legislata
app.legislata.com
December 12, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Docket #2089 on p. 56-57 is a resolution on BHA elevators from Clr Flynn. This is one of 3 BHA elevator related dockets from him - the other 2 are Dockets #2084 & #2085 on p. 18-21 are from Clr Flynn about the elevators at the Ruth Barkley Apartments.
December 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Docket #2088 on p. 54-55 was filed by Clr Mejia and is a resolution urging Boston Public Schools to “release the data and criteria” for school closures, new school construction, and the long-term facilities plan. Mejia is holding a press conference abt the resolution on Wednesday morning.
December 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Docket #2045 on p. 47 is the major attraction of this meeting: this is the docket that will set Boston property tax rates for 2026.
December 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
The ZBA has 7 members and 7 alternates, who each hold a seat with specific requirements. Aiken held 1 of 2 “neighborhood” member seats - there are also 2 “neighborhood” alternates - check out the screengrab for how that is defined:
www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
December 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Docket #2086 on p. 22 is David Aiken’s letter resigning from Zoning Board of Appeals. According to the ZBA’s website, Aiken was still serving despite his term expiring on 5/01/23. No replacement was in this week’s agenda packet. Aiken was 1 of 2 ZBA members approved by the Council back on 11/30/22.
December 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Docket #2083 on p. 16 & 17 is a letter from City Auditor Scott Finn closing Boston’s FY25 accounts with $25.7M of transfers
December 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Docket #2080 on p. 8-9 is a $1M grant from Northeastern University to the Mayor’s Office of Housing “per cooperative agreement” for the 840 Columbus Ave project. That appears to be a reference to the 5 year PILOT agreement NEU & Boston signed last month:
www.boston.gov/news/city-bo...
City of Boston and Northeastern University Announce New Five-Year PILOT Agreement and New Ten-Year Institutional Master Plan, which include Historic Commitments on Housing and Community Benefits
The City of Boston and Northeastern University today announced landmark agreements on an Institutional Master Plan (IMP) and Payment-in-Lieu-of-Taxes (PILOT), which include unprecedented housing commi...
www.boston.gov
December 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
BPI's ED was on the Codcast with @jenndotsmith.bsky.social to talk about Boston's property values. Make sure to listen! #mapoli #bospoli
open.spotify.com/episode/05OX...
Showdown over Boston tax rates, ft Greg Maynard
open.spotify.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
BPI has 5 q's for the City finance officials testifying on Monday. This hearing is enormously consequential: the drop in assessed CRE value now exceeds the Great Recession's loss, and it in't clear where the bottom is, or how Boston will recover.
bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com/p/tmrw-at-10...
TMRW AT 10 AM: 5 Questions about Boston’s 2026 property taxes
Council hearing comes amid growing fiscal crisis, as dropping CRE values, anemic new growth, and rising residential tax bills prompt Wu to order City Hall budget cuts & restart battle on Beacon Hill
bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Boston's property values were certified by the state on Friday as well. This is a look at the year over year changes in residential, commercial, CIP, and the total assessed values: #mapoli #bospoli
December 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Check out the WTR for Friday here - there are 5 questions and answers about last week:
bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com/p/weekly-tra...
Weekly Transcript Round-Up for 12/05/25
MA DOR certified Boston's property values today, setting stage for 2026 property tax rate setting and a re-newed battle on Beacon Hill over failed 2024 tax shift proposal
bostonpolicyinstitute.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:42 PM