Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council dissolves PILOT special committee and sends request for tax-exempt property report to Finance Committee
Summary
After debate, the council voted to dissolve the special committee on payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) and to refer a motion asking the treasurer for a report identifying tax-exempt properties to the Committee on Finance.
The New Bedford City Council voted Thursday to dissolve two special committees, including the special committee on the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) program, and to send a motion requesting a citywide report on tax-exempt properties to the Committee on Finance.
Councilor Naomi Carney said she had preferred keeping the smaller PILOT committee because a smaller group could methodically examine tax-exempt properties, including churches and vacant parcels. Councilor Linda Morad cautioned that small committees can concentrate information among fewer members and described past steps the council took to circulate committee minutes to the full body to avoid that risk.
After a roll-call vote, the council discharged the PILOT motion from the committee (vote recorded as 10 to 0) and then voted to refer the matter — including a written request that the treasurer provide a report listing tax-exempt properties, values and vacancy status — to the Committee on Finance. Councilors said they want the finance committee to review the inventory and consider options for recovering revenue where law permits.
