Small property owners urging Boston City Council to reject Mayor Wu’s push to increase business tax

BOSTON — Small property owners are urging the Boston City Council to reject Mayor Wu’s push to increase business taxes.

The Boston City Council’s Government Operations and Ways and Means committees will hold hearings on four property tax initiatives on Monday, including Mayor Michelle Wu’s latest push to shift more of the city’s tax burden onto businesses and a call to probe the city’s home assessment practices. 

The hearing will be the first time the Council takes up Mayor Wu’s “expanded” home rule petition, which includes the same property tax increase on commercial owners that was denied on Beacon Hill.

Senators argued that raising taxes on the commercial sector could have a negative impact as many businesses are still struggling with the impacts of the pandemic.

“Property owners are receiving questionable tax bills which raise serious questions about the city’s assessment process. Boston’s property valuations are all over the place and lower-value properties are being grossly over-assessed, hurting the very people Mayor Wu claims to want to help. We applaud the city council for demanding answers,” said SPOA Vice President Amir Shahsavari.

Shahsavari also noted the Mayor’s latest proposal offers rebates to residential taxpayers only if her commercial tax increase is defeated again.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

©2025 Cox Media Group