Taxes

Somerville, Mass. - Somerville is going through changes. With the Green Line coming soon, the redevelopment of Union Square and new businesses moving into Assembly Square, property values are skyrocketing across the city.

This means that even though the residential tax rate this year is $12.61, slightly lower than last year, most residents will likely end up paying more in their base tax bill.

BOSTON/Government Center - Over 50 members of the Massachusetts Alliance of HUD Tenants and several allied organizations held twin demonstrations outside the offices of Sens. John Kerry and Scott Brown on Tuesday - urging them to "tax the 1 percent and cut the Pentagon as the only way to create jobs and reduce the deficit without cutting vital programs for the poor and middle class."

BOSTON/Roxbury - Over 150 people participated in a "Community Unity Rally" to support the "No on Question 1" campaign this evening at Roxbury Community College. Speakers from several sponsoring organizations vowed to defeat the statewide referendum question - which would eliminate the Massachusetts state income tax by 2010 - saying it will cut over 40% or $13 billion from the state budget, including $158 million from Boston Public Schools. Rally sponsors included ACORN, Boston Tenant Coalition, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, Hyde Square Task Force, Jobs with Justice, Mass.