The Boston City Council voted unanimously raise residential property taxes by 13% for 2026.
Property taxes cover more than 70% of the city’s $4.8 billion budget. WBUR reports the City Council’s vote this marks the second straight year double-digit tax increases for the city’s homeowners, cost them $780 on average. However, homeowners will face a 26% jump in taxes in January as the increases of the last two fiscal years overlap. After January, the tax rate will return to 13%.
At the same time, the city’s high-end office buildings will see tax bills drop by 4.4%, or an average $210,000, due to the continued decline of commercial property values.
“If you look at what’s happened over time, we’re coming very close to a point where residents are shouldering 50% of the total property taxes that are collected by the city,” said City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune.
Councilors also voted to keep the commercial property tax burden at 175% of the residential property tax burden and authorized a 35% exemption for homeowners whose primary residence is in Boston.
Councilor Ed Flynn, a critic of Mayor Michelle Wu, argued the city needs to crack down on its spending.
“It is time for us to demonstrate fiscal discipline, accountability, transparency and positive leadership,” said Flynn. “We need to have an honest conversation about our budget, and the right level of services, and the taxes to fund that budget.”
