NEW: Chamber and Community Groups Join Forces on Worcester Taxes

Thursday, November 29, 2012

GoLocalWorcester News Team

The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association and North Worcester Business Association announced today a joint position for the upcoming Worcester City Council Tax Classification hearing.

In an effort to present a unified position and to mobilize the community as one, the Chamber and Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association, met to find common ground. Facing the reality of increasing tax bills, both sides sought to ease the burden as equally as possible. The newly minted collaboration is putting their collective support behind Line 185 from the tax table being considered at the hearing. Line 185 sets a residential tax rate of $18.58 and a commercial tax rate of $30.85, both representing a 4 percent increase to each tax class.

“I was happy to work with Gary on this issue and delighted that we could come to an amicable agreement,” said Richard Kennedy, President and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“This is a significant step in the direction of progress with the community, residents and businesses, working together to improve our city.”

“The Chamber has been a voice for businesses for many years, as I have tried to be a voice for the residents,” said Gary Vecchio, President of the Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association.

“Now, we can both be voices for the entire community of Worcester. This rate ensures that both sides share equally in helping to provide for the needs of City Government.”

The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association each encourage their members to contact their city councilors and urge them to vote for Line 185.

Buoyed by the successful conversations between the Chamber of Commerce and the Shrewsbury Street Neighborhood Association, several other groups have joined in the chorus of voices supporting the parity of Line 185, including the Worcester Citizens for Business; William T. Breault, Chair of the Main South Alliance for Public Safety; the Shrewsbury Street Merchants Association; Edith Morgan; the Webster Square Business Association; Leonard Ciuffredo; James Magay of the Lincoln Street Area Business Association; and the North Worcester Business Association.