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Cambridge council approves FY2026 tax rate after hours of public comment over commercial spike
Summary
After a lengthened public comment period with business owners and residents warning of harm to small firms, the Cambridge City Council approved the city—s FY2026 tax rate, including a 22% rise in the commercial rate and a 30% owner-occupied residential exemption.
The Cambridge City Council voted unanimously Monday to set the city—s property tax rate for fiscal 2026, approving the tax-rate classification, a minimum residential factor and a 30% residential exemption after extended public comment from small-business groups, residents and city finance staff.
Business leaders and residents told the council the proposed 22% increase in the commercial rate would hit small storefronts and restaurants during a period of weak office and lab values. The council recessed its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. to hold the required tax-rate hearing and returned to finish public comment before voting later in the evening.
The tax-rate decision matters because the City Council sets the split between several property classes after the city assessor calculates property values. Assistant City Manager Claire Spinner and Director of Assessing Gail Willett explained that the city—s operating budget growth (3.8% for FY2026) in…
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