TAX NEWS - June 2010

Massachusetts Tax: Springfield City Council wrestles with tax rates

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- As it stands right now, the commercial propety tax rate will go down and single family homeowners will pay slightly more for their taxes.

Business owners could get a two percent break. But residents could be forced to pay more. Some say that could be difficult coming off a recession. That's why City Councilor Michael Fenton says he's against this plan.

"I'll be voting against this budget, because i think what we have now, to date as we're going through, is unfair to everybody," he said. "It's unfair to the departments that have been cut, it's unfair to the departments who haven't been cut."

However the new rates not a done deal yet; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno told 22News that the City Council may meet again next Wednesday to find more ways to balance the budget.