Springfield committee hears Collins Center on PILOTs, aims to draft permanent policy and seek state grant

The Springfield Pilot Revenue Committee on Feb. 10 heard a presentation from the Collins Center on structuring payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreements and discussed creating a permanent pilot policy, a standing committee, and a grant-funded contract to develop a scope of work.

The Collins Center’s Sarah Conkannon, a presenter for the center, told the committee, “we're here to talk about the call center and talk about the work that the finance team does and the work that we are, have been doing and and can do vis a vis pilot, programs.” Steve Cirillo, a Collins Center staff member with prior municipal finance experience, summarized his practice negotiating PILOTs and recommended written contracts, a value‑based methodology and mechanisms to phase in payments over time.

Why it matters: Committee members said Springfield is seeking new recurring revenue sources to ease budget pressure. The Collins Center advised that one-time lump-sum payments do not solve long-term budget gaps and recommended structuring PILOTs so revenue grows with property values and inflation. Committee members discussed applying for the state Division of Local Services Community Compact Best Practices grant to pay for consulting and a formal scope of work.

Collins Center background and recommendations

Conkannon told the committee the Collins Center was created by the state legislature in 2008 to provide technical assistance to cities and towns across Massachusetts. Cirillo described negotiating more than two dozen PILOT agreements during his municipal career…