2008 Woodie Awards
Council at-large candidate would impose yearly tax on college students
Amandas Bergeron
Issue date: 10/13/05 Section: News
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One of the eight candidates running for an at-large position on the Boston City Council this November has devised a plan to impose a $125 per year tax for each student attending a Boston college or university. Matt O'Malley said the fees would help offset the 53 percent of tax-exempt real estate in the city.
Property is not taxed when it belongs to an organization that is non-profit or service-based, such as educational facilities, according to Tim McGourthy, director of policy at the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA).
While some of these institutions, including Boston University (BU), make monetary contributions to the city through the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program (PILOT), others do not, O'Malley said.
McGourthy said PILOTs are paid as "an agreement made between the city and an institution to offset costs that the city shoulders."
Large colleges or universities with expanding properties, such as BU and Boston College (BC), are more apt to pay into this program because they often have a higher impact on community resources, McGourthy said. Occasionally, other tax-exempt institutions, such as hospitals, also contribute, he said.
O'Malley's fee, however, would ensure contributions from students at all area colleges.
"Everyone needs to pay their fair share," O'Malley said. "We need to have a formula that is a fair and independent barometer."
Emerson does not contribute to the PILOT program, according to Vice President of Public Affairs David Rosen. Despite this, Rosen said Emerson gives back to the city in other ways-especially in construction and development.
Emerson bought the Paramount Theatre at the request of Boston officials who needed a buyer to renovate the property, Rosen said.
Emerson completed restoration on Lester J. Rotch Field last spring in a cooperative arrangement with the city.
Athletic Director Rudy Keeling said Emerson already owned the land on which the new field was built. The college approached the city with a plan to repair the land and an agreement to share the facilities with the city of Boston, Keeling said.
Property is not taxed when it belongs to an organization that is non-profit or service-based, such as educational facilities, according to Tim McGourthy, director of policy at the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA).
While some of these institutions, including Boston University (BU), make monetary contributions to the city through the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program (PILOT), others do not, O'Malley said.
McGourthy said PILOTs are paid as "an agreement made between the city and an institution to offset costs that the city shoulders."
Large colleges or universities with expanding properties, such as BU and Boston College (BC), are more apt to pay into this program because they often have a higher impact on community resources, McGourthy said. Occasionally, other tax-exempt institutions, such as hospitals, also contribute, he said.
O'Malley's fee, however, would ensure contributions from students at all area colleges.
"Everyone needs to pay their fair share," O'Malley said. "We need to have a formula that is a fair and independent barometer."
Emerson does not contribute to the PILOT program, according to Vice President of Public Affairs David Rosen. Despite this, Rosen said Emerson gives back to the city in other ways-especially in construction and development.
Emerson bought the Paramount Theatre at the request of Boston officials who needed a buyer to renovate the property, Rosen said.
Emerson completed restoration on Lester J. Rotch Field last spring in a cooperative arrangement with the city.
Athletic Director Rudy Keeling said Emerson already owned the land on which the new field was built. The college approached the city with a plan to repair the land and an agreement to share the facilities with the city of Boston, Keeling said.