Overview
- City projections show residential values up 2% and commercial values down 6%, driving an average $780, or 13%, increase for single‑family homes in 2026, with January bills 26% higher than the prior quarter as the average Class A office bill falls 4.4% ($210,000).
- Mayor Michelle Wu is refiling a home‑rule measure to lift the commercial tax differential above the 175% cap to roughly 181.5% for three years to blunt homeowner increases.
- The proposal has passed the Boston City Council and the Massachusetts House but remains stalled in the Senate as business groups withdraw support and dispute city data used in earlier talks.
- State Sen. Nick Collins opposes the shift and backs alternatives such as rebates and targeted senior relief, while accusing the city of withholding valuation details that have yet to be certified by the Department of Revenue.
- Wu is urging business leaders to publicly reaffirm last year’s compromise, directing departments to propose FY27 budgets 2% below current levels and slow hiring, and the City Council is preparing a tax classification hearing next week.