On November 22, 2021, while setting the property tax factors (which sets the property tax rates), Councilor Tracye Whitfield released a statement urging Mayor Sarno to do more to relieve Springfield residents of the property tax increase burden they are now seeing on their bills.
In November, I stated “While the Mayor’s effort is laudable, it simply does not go far enough. At the Mayor’s current recommendation of the tax factors (factor used to set the tax rate) and the use of $2.5 million in free cash, the average residential tax bill will still increase by $216. In addition, there has been year over year increase in the tax bills that our seniors and individuals living on a fixed income just can’t afford.”
Now, I am getting phone calls and emails about increasing residential property tax bills. In the midst of a global pandemic, our residents have suffered enough loss and we must do our absolute best to provide the assistance they need. So again, I offer a suggestion to Mayor Sarno.
As part of the Host Community Agreement, MGM gives the city 2.5 million dollars of Community Impact funds annually until fiscal year 2031. Those dollars should be used toward community needs and I think this is a huge need in the community. The city had around 4.4 million dollars of unused Community Impact Funds sitting in an account. That last payment received during that update was fiscal year (FY) 2020 payment. Now there should be at least 2.5 million more in the account with the FY2021 payment. The administration should set up a program using this funding source to offer meaningful relief to our residents.
The administration presented to the community that MGM casino revenue would help reduce residential property taxes bills. However, quite the opposite has happened. The average residential tax bill has continuously increased over the past six years and since the inception of the casino. Now is the time to make due on what was said by the administration and use a portion of the MGM Community Impact funds to assist the community in this time of need.
