►
From YouTube: Committee on Ways & Means on November 16, 2022
Description
Ways & Means Hearing - Docket #1386, tax classification
A
A
A
B
For
the
record,
my
name
is
Daniel
Finance
Anderson
district
7,
City
councilor
I
am
the
chair
of
Boston
city
council
committee
on
ways
and
means
I
am
joined
here
by
my
colleagues
counselor
president
Ed
Flynn
counselor
Bach.
This
hearing
is
being
recorded.
It
is
being
live
stream
at
boston.gov
for
slash
City,
Dash,
Council,
Dash,
TV
and
broadcast
on
Xfinity
channel
8
RCN
channel
82,
FiOS
channel
964.
B
We're
here
to
discuss
an
order
relative
to
the
adoption
of
classification
which
speaks
to
the
tax
class
patient,
that
the
city
of
Boston
will
utilize
for
fiscal
year
2023
every
year.
We
must
determine
the
percentages
of
the
tax
levy
to
be
listed
under
each
property
category
for
the
upcoming
fiscal
year.
These
categories
are
residential,
commercial,
industrial
or
open
space.
Personal
property
is
treated
separately
and
is
excluded
from
this
classification.
State
law
requires
that
all
property
B
is
assessed
at
all
full
market
value.
B
Taxpayers
can
save
considerable
sums
of
money
due
to
classification
I,
don't
want
to
take
too
much
space
and
I'm,
hoping
that
this
is
pretty
straightforward.
So
I'll
allow
my
Council
colleagues
to
make
a
statement,
an
opening
statement
and
if
they
have
any
questions
after
you
present
I'm
happy
to
hear
from
you
today.
I
do
I
just
want
to
acknowledge
that
our
speaker
today
or
the
panel
is
Nicholas
arinello
you
pronounce
it
better.
B
D
I
wanted
to
highlight
something
very
briefly:
the
importance
of
of
this
discussion,
but
also
how
the
taxes,
how
property
taxes
really
impact
residents
in
the
city,
but
especially
residents
with
limited
income
residents
that
might
be
on
a
fixed
income
or
seniors
persons
with
disabilities,
also
also
families
and
Veterans.
But
we
want
to
make
sure
Boston
is
a
city
for
everybody,
not
just
the
wealthy,
but
for
Working
Families
and
people
not
making
a
large
amount
of
money.
They
might
live
in
a
they
might
live
in
a
million
dollar
home,
but
doesn't
mean
they're
wealthy.
D
E
Thank
you
so
much
Madam
chair
and
thank
you
to
the
assessor
for
being
with
us.
I
just
I
want
to
Echo
Council
Flynn's
remarks.
It's
you
know
I
think
tremendously
important
that
even
as
our
our
families
are
building
Equity
with
the
homes
that
they
own,
the
really
key
thing
for
so
many
families
is
that
it
anchors
them
here
in
Boston
and
so
making
sure
that
that
the
tax
liability
is
one
that
people
can
afford
to
pay
is
really
important
and
I'm
grateful.
E
This
is
work
that
remains
as
important
as
ever,
but
that
you
know
the
people
in
Boston
and
this
chamber
have
been
involved
in
for
a
number
of
decades
to
help
keep
our
our
residential
communities
stable
and
and
then
just
to
say
that
you
know
I.
Think
president
Flynn
alluded
to
the
importance
of
the
business
Community.
E
You
know
that
commercial,
real
estate
value
as
well,
because
because
of
the
ways
in
which
the
cities,
the
city's
budget
and
all
of
the
important
things
that
we
fund
are
dependent
upon
it.
So
really
just
you
know,
this
is
kind
of
one
of
those,
those
we
do
it
every
year,
but
it's
quite
a
key
hearing
and
an
order
and
so
grateful
to
the
chair
for
sponsoring
it
this
year,
and
and
thank
you
so
much
for
being
here
with
us.
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
Thank.
B
You
for
the
viewers
at
home,
written
comments
may
be
sent
to
committee
email
at
ccc.wm
boston.gov
and
will
be
made
part
of
the
record
and
available
to
all
counselors
public.
Testimony
will
be
taken
at
the
end
of
this
hearing
if
anyone
shows
up
or
online
if
you
wish
to
sign
up
for
public
testimony
here
in
the
chamber,
I
see
no
one
here,
but
if
you
do
show
up
in
here,
watchings,
please
sign
up
at
the
door.
B
If
you
are
looking
at
to
testify
virtually
please
email,
Shane
pack
at
Shane
dot
pack,
just
p-a-c
at
boston.gov,
for
the
link
and
your
name
will
be
added
to
the
list.
Today's
hearing
is
on
docket
1386
order
relative
to
the
adoption
of
classification
in
the
city
of
Boston
fiscal
year
2023..
Commissioner
arinella.
We
would
love
to
hear
from
you
on
this
docket.
You
have.
C
C
Thank
you
so
much
ma'am,
chair
and
good
morning
to
you
and
good
morning
to
you,
councilor,
counselor,
Flynn
I,
really
appreciate
you
having
me
here,
I'm
here,
to
testify
on
behalf
of
the
administration,
for
the
record,
my
name
is
Nicholas
arnello
I'm,
the
commissioner
of
the
assessing
Department
I'm
here,
to
show
my
support
and
administration
support
for
docket
number
1386.
The
order
for
classification.
C
This
is
an
extremely
important
process
that
is
not
automatic,
and
it's
something
that
the
council
has
to
act
on
every
year
in
the
administration
also
has
to
support
every
year
and
it
has
historically
provided
a
huge
benefit
to
the
residents
of
the
city
and
our
constituents.
There
are
two
components
that
are
a
part
of
this
docket.
The
first
component
is
the
classification
component
and
what
that
in
essence,
does
is
shifts
some
of
the
tax
responsibility
from
our
residential
taxpayers
to
commercial
taxpayers.
C
C
I
believe
there
are
14
communities
throughout
the
Commonwealth
that
had
a
program
of
this
nature,
so
it
is
not
something
that
is
automatically
given
to
every
resident
or
that's
available
to
every
resident
throughout
the
Commonwealth
municipalities
have
to
elect
to
participate
in
the
program,
which
is
what
this
order
is,
is
doing
for
fiscal
year.
23,
hopefully
passes
historically.
Boston
has
been
a
very
strong
advocate
of
the
residential
exemption
program
and
in
every
year
since
its
existence,
Boston
is
elected
to
maximize
that
exemption.
C
Fifty
thousand
dollars
still
gone
a
significant
savings
from
the
program,
but
it
was
47
percent
tax
savings
and
so
that
the
way
the
program
is
structured,
in
essence,
is
that
the
benefits
accrue
to
lower
valued
properties,
and
it
shifts
some
of
that
burden
to
higher
value,
Residential
Properties,
and
so
that's
that's
how
the
program
is
funded,
so
it's
funded
through
the
tax
rate
system
itself,
and
so
those
higher
value
properties
are
helping
sustain
the
lower
value
property.
Keep
those
costs
down.
C
That's
it's
really.
All
there
is
kind
of
to
it.
There
there's
not
too
much
else
to
say,
but
here,
if
anyone
has
any
questions
or
is
there
any
anything
else,
then
I
can
help
with
oh
and
also
I
should
add.
These
programs
are
both
in
addition
to
the
other
exemption
programs
that
the
City
offers
so
exemption
programs
for
veterans
exemption
programs
for
the
elderly.
There
are
also
opportunities
for
people
to
reduce
their
taxes.
B
D
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
Thank
you,
commissioner.
Again
so
I
know.
We've
talked
in
the
past,
commissioner,
can
you
explain
for
the
audience
that
are
watching
on
television?
Can
you
explain
what
the
assistance
program
is
for
seniors
as
it
relates
to
doing
some
volunteer
hours?
What
is
that
program
all
about?
How
would
they
get
involved
in
it
and
it's
an
opportunity
for
them
to
kind
of
reduce
their
property
tax
by
working
a
certain
number
of
hours?
Can
you
give
us
a
little
bit
of
background
information
on
that?
Please.
C
Yes,
sir,
thank
you
for
the
question.
Counselor
Flynn,
so
one
of
the
programs
that's
available
through
the
city
is
called
a
senior
work-off
program.
That
program
is
administered
by
the
age,
strong
department,
and
so
the
the
application
process
goes
through
age,
strong
and
in
in
essence,
see
if
I
can
summarize
it
quickly
without
screwing
up
too
many
of
the
details.
In
essence,
the
program
allows
seniors
that
meet
income.
C
Eligibility
to
work
for
the
city,
at
a
rate
that
I
believe
is,
is
approximately
the
minimum
wage
in
order
to
reduce
their
tax
liability.
So,
instead
of
us
paying
the
seniors
directly,
they
get
credit
hours
that
then
get
applied
to
their
real
estate
tax
bills,
and
so
it's
a
really
great
program
and
it's
a
way
for
kind
of
the
city
to
benefit
from
the
knowledge
and
experience
of
our
senior
residents,
who
might
not
want
to
be
working
full-time,
but
maybe
you're
still
interested
in
a
little
bit
of
a
tax
break.
D
Thank
you:
are
we
able
to
do
a
better
job
in
terms
of
publicizing?
That
program
may
be
working
with
District
City
councilors
working
closely
with
age
strong
with
your
team,
but
letting
residents
across
the
city
know
about
the
program
how
to
access
the
program,
the
benefits
of
the
program
and
steps
that
they
need
to
take
if
they
are
interested
in
that
so
so,
I
I
would
like
to
see
kind
of
a
more
robust
educational
Outreach
to
Residents
seniors
about
about
the
program,
and
maybe
they
might
be
interested
in
here's.
The
contact
information.
C
Thank
you,
councilor
I,
I
think
that's
a
that's
an
excellent
point
and
I
think
all
of
our
exemption
programs.
You
know
the
the
city
does
try
and
and
get
as
many
people
involved
in
the
programs
as
possible
that
are
eligible,
because
that's
that's
why
the
programs
exist.
We
don't
want
them
to
just
kind
of
sit
and
be
unused
and
I
think
that
it's
definitely
worth
exploring
kind
of
more
opportunities
to
strengthen,
strengthen
Outreach
and
across
the
board
for
all
things.
But
I
I
think
you
know
for
this
program.
C
That's
definitely
something
that's
worth
talking
to
it's
strung
about
and
and
maybe
we
can
kind
of
set
up
some,
maybe
Community
meetings
or
something
if
that
would
be
kind
of
a
useful
way
to
proceed.
We
do
we
do
a
lot
of
Outreach
now
through
mailings
and
mailings,
get
sent
with
tax
bills
and
I
know
age.
Strong
and
assessing
you
know
we
both
go
to
community
meetings,
but
that
doesn't
mean
that
we
can't
we
can't
go
to
more.
It's
it's.
D
Also,
these
opening
of
of
streets
with
city
services
are
present
closing
of
streets,
rather
in
opening
opening
them
to
the
residents
but
being
being
more
engaged
during
the
robust
public
Outreach
on
it.
So
my
final
question
is
and
again
for
the
audience.
Tell
us
about
the
exemption
program
for
veterans.
C
Depending
on
what
category
you
might
might
fall
under.
So
we
have
a
program
for
surrounding
spouses
of
veterans,
there's
an
exemption
program
that
addresses
that
we
have
a
program
for
veterans
who
received
the
Purple
Heart.
There's
a
program
for
surviving
spouses,
specifically
of
World
War,
One
veterans.
There's
also
a
program
related
to
veterans
who
have
been
injured
during
their
service.
That
are,
the
the
kind
of
criteria
is
related
to
their
disability
level
and
then
there's
a
program
for
paraplegics
I
I
might
be
missing
some.
C
The
best
way
for
people
to
get
information
about
all
of
these,
because
they're
they're,
just
so
many
details
and
there's
so
much
Nuance
to
each
program
for
the
exemption
criteria,
and
so
the
the
best
way
for
people
to
get
information
is
to
either
go
to
the
boston.gov
backslash
assessing
website,
where
we
we're.
Actually,
we
just
revamped
a
whole
bunch
of
web
pages
to
try
and
make
it
easier
for
people
to
access
the
information
about
these
programs
and
to
make
it
easier
to
get
brochures.
C
But
also
people
should
really
feel
free
to
give
a
call
to
our
taxpayer
referral
and
Assistance
Center,
where
we
we
have
staff
specifically
available
to
kind
of
walk
people
through
exemption
programs
and
help
them
understand
kind
of
what
they
might
qualify
for
and
what
the
criteria
are.
And
so
the
the
phone
number
for
that
is
617-635-4287.
C
So
that
that
can
be
the
the
easiest
way,
if
you
don't,
if
you
want
to
talk
to
somebody,
that's
that's
the
easiest
way.
If
you
want
to
just
go
to
the
website.
That's
that's
also
viable,
but
there
is
a
lot
of
information
out
there
and
while
we
are
trying
to
make
it
easier
to
access,
sometimes
that
the
easiest
way
to
kind
of
get
to
where
you
want
to
be
is
to
talk
to
one
of
our
staff
members.
C
So
they
can
walk
you
through
because
they
they
have
the
experience
of
the
programs
and
that
sometimes
these
things
get
complicated,
because
constituents
might
think
there's
something
that's
available.
But
tax
law
is
weird.
There
are
lots
of
rules
and
ins
and
outs
and
so
really
encourage
people
to
kind
of
reach
out
to
our
department
to
get
those
answers
and
help
figure
out
what
programs
they
might
fit
into.
D
Thank
you,
I
I
have
no
further
comments
or
questions.
Maybe
maybe
one
final
point
and
you
don't
have
to
respond
to
it,
but
could
we
possibly
down
the
road
update
veterans
of
World,
War
One
to
Veterans
of
operation,
Iraqi
Freedom
operation
enduring
Freedom,
Iraq
Afghanistan,
but
the
world?
Well,
one
veterans
are
deceased,
but
could
we
move
forward
and
try
to
include
the
younger
veterans?
Vietnam
veterans
are
are
in
their
70s.
Certainly
we
want.
D
E
C
We're
currently
my
Department's
currently
in
the
process
of
finalizing
values
for
fiscal
year
23
and
getting
approval
from
the
state
on
those
values
and
the
the
actual
final
rates
for
this
year
are
also
dependent
upon
this
hearing
and
the
council
vote
on
classification
and
on
residential
exemption.
So
I
don't
have
final
numbers
for
fiscal
year.
23,
but
I
I
have
a
whole
bunch
of
other
years
and.
C
E
E
Think.
Obviously,
at
this
point,
don't
really
expect
to
see
action
on
that
this
year,
but
I
hope
that
that's
something
we
can
all
continue
to
push
in
the
new
year,
because
I
do
think
that
right
now,
the
trouble
is
is
that
the
the
income
levels
are
so
low
in
that
law
that
most
of
our
seniors
on
fixed
incomes,
even
the
ones
who
have
very
tight
budgets,
don't
qualify,
and
it
just
feels
like
we
need
to
work
with
the
state
to
fix
that.
So
thank
you
guys
for
proposing
something
on
that
front.
E
B
C
C
C
C
Frequently
asked
questions:
my
apologies
no
worries
that
that
kind
of
lists,
some
of
the
current
programs
that
are
available,
encourages
people
to
call
the
department
to
either
get
an
application
or
talk
more
to
see
whether
they
might
be
eligible.
Another
thing
that
the
department
does
is
we
proactively
anytime?
We
see
a
property
transfer.
We
proactively
send
a
residential
exemption
to
that
property
in
the
the
fall.
So
like
this
past
August
September
early
fall
late
summer
early
fall.
C
C
There
is
not
a
similar
program
for
renters
there's
a
similar
program
for
owners
in
Cooperative
housing
buildings,
so
so
shareholders
and
Cooperative
buildings
there's
a
similar
program,
but
there
is
not
and
that
that
also
has
different
qualification
criteria.
It
has
dipping
application
deadline
so
that
that
program,
if
anyone
at
home
is
interested
in
that
I
strongly
encourage
you
to
give
a
call
to
our
tax
credit
referral,
Assistance
Center,
sorry.