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Council votes to phase in local-option sales tax credit at 50% to help close budget gap

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Summary

At a special budget workshop, council approved a two-year, 50% phase‑in of previously refunded municipal revenue from the local‑option sales tax (reducing the property‑tax credit the town has been returning) as part of a package of revenue changes to close a roughly $4.5 million budget shortfall.

The Somerville Town Council voted during a special budget workshop to begin phasing in the municipal share of the local‑option sales tax this fiscal year, keeping 50% of the municipal revenue that the town has been refunding as part of the property‑tax credit calculation.

Council members said the move is intended to generate recurring revenue to help close a roughly $4.5 million gap between proposed expenses and expected revenues ahead of first reading of the budget in two weeks.

Why it matters: Council staff and finance staff told the body that the…

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