Date: 12/20/2022
Springfield City Councilors punted on their first opportunity to provide an additional $6.5 million in tax relief to homeowners and small business owners, delaying their vote until Monday. The $6.5 million would be on top of $3.5 million of relief already allocated to address rapidly rising property tax costs – the result of a hot real estate market, and an annual budget that has ballooned by nearly $200 million in just five years.
While I appreciate the advocacy of many councilors who want Mayor Sarno to provide additional relief (Springfield has nearly $70 million in free cash, thanks in part to the nearly $42 million Eversource settlement), the lobbying is likely too little, too late.
There are consequences that come from consistently airing grievances in public, every time a policy disagreement arises. Valuable political capital is lost. To get to the negotiation table, never mind being successful, requires a basic working relationship. Successful elected officials know that today’s opposition is tomorrow’s ally, and it’s best to find opportunities for collaboration whenever possible. One can compromise to get work done without compromising your values.
Our city has both an inflation problem and spending concerns. Our retirees, widows, young families, renters who want to own, small business owners, and everyone in between will be impacted by these tax increases. Let’s pray that cooler heads prevail, the two sides come together, and this increase in tax relief is approved.
Jay F. Latorre III
Springfield
