The Quincy City Council on Dec. 8 approved a series of year-end adjustments tied to the FY2026 tax-rate recap, adopting a residential rate of $11.78 and a commercial rate of $23.53 while authorizing transfers and appropriations designed to reduce the median homeowner increase.

The measures — approved largely on voice and roll-call votes after a public hearing — included use of $2,000,000 in certified free cash for tax relief, a $16.4 million budget reduction funded in part by bond premium and grant proceeds, a $3,000,000 special‑revenue transfer from the sale of the IHOP parcel, a $9.1 million pension stabilization appropriation and a $6,000,000 allocation for union contract settlements. Director of Municipal Finance told the council the city’s tax levy for FY26 will be $334,912,440 and that the median homeowner tax increase will be $551.95, a 7.6% rise.

Why it matters: Residents and councilors said the package is meant to blunt a more painful rise in property tax bills, but speakers at the public hearing said the measures — particularly transfers from one‑time sources and draws on stabilization — raise governance and transparency concerns and may leave the city exposed to future risk.

What the council approved and how it will be funded

- Order 2025‑140: A $16,400,000 reduction to the FY26 budget. Finance staff said $6.5 million comes from bond premium, $6.9 million from grant funds and $3.0 million from special‑revenue proceeds tied to the IHOP parcel sale. Council approved the order after questions about the source and timing of bond premiums.

- Order 2025‑141: Appropriation of $2,000,000 from certified free cash to reduce the tax rate. Staff noted the $2,000,000 figure is the certified amount from the state and that recertification later in the month could change the available free cash.

- Order 2025‑142: A $9,100,000 deposit to the pension stabilization account for FY26 and authorization to appropriate an additional $7,000,000 from city stabilization if required by final actuarial results.

- Order 2025‑143: A $3,000,000 transfer from special revenue (proceeds of the IHOP parcel sale) to debt service.

- Order 2025‑149: A $6,000,000 appropriation to fund anticipated collective-bargaining settlements (retroactive to July 1). Staff said the amount covers COLA expectations across multiple bargaining units.

Public concerns raised at the hearing

Residents used the public hearing to press for more detail and earlier notice of materials on major financial items. Joanne Collins criticized the administration’s financial management, saying, “We have already seen 3,500,000.0 disappear from the pension fund undetected for months,” and asked what discretionary projects — including a proposed art center at the Monroe Building — might cost in lost commercial tax revenue. Bill Samsau described the situation as “frightening,” warning that depleting stabilization and reserve accounts could leave the city vulnerable to market downturns. Anne Mahoney argued that key figures were added to the agenda only minutes before the meeting and called reliance on last‑minute free cash “scrambling and unsustainable.”

Council and staff responses

Finance staff explained that bond premium is realized when the city issues notes; those proceeds are irregular and depend on market timing. Staff said an actuarial valuation expected in January could reduce the city’s pension payment obligation and that the $7,000,000 placeholder in stabilization is intended to demonstrate the city can cover a $16,000,000 payment requested by state reviewers if necessary.

Votes and next steps

All the tax-rate related orders and year‑end appropriations were approved by the council on Dec. 8. The director said the city expects updated actuarial and assessment data in January that could affect final pension costs and any further use of stabilization. The city will proceed with billing on the adopted schedule unless council takes additional action.

Ending

Council members recorded the approvals by roll call and closed the tax-rate recap items; residents who spoke at the hearing said they will seek more transparency and oversight as the new council takes office.