Encouraging business growth or discouraging home ownership?
In Fitchburg’s case, it’s probably a combination of both, after the City Council on Tuesday voted 8-2 in favor of adopting a single tax rate in an effort to more evenly balance the tax burden between commercial/industrial and residential properties.
Businesses and residents will now be taxed at the same rate: $19.72 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
That means the owner of the average single- family home can expect to pay about $195 more yearly in taxes. Had the council approved the same rate calculation as last year, taxes would have increased by only $127.
The new tax rate gives the average industrial property a $670 tax break this year, while the average commercial property owner will pay about $390 less.
At- large Councilor Marcus DiNatale seemed to be speaking for the majority with his post-meeting post on social media: “For decades the dual-tax system has failed the city, assisting in driving commercial businesses out, hurting homeowners.”
Many theories exist about the best way to attract business, especially in Gateway Cities like Fitchburg and Lowell. Some say taxes only play a small part in the business-attraction equation, citing municipal services, lack of stifling regulations and an educated workforce as equally important factors.
However, after years of seeing little progress, councilors opted for another course.
Certainly, a lower tax bill can only promote growth; it’s a visible sign that Fitchburg not only appreciates its current business community, but is anxious to add more companies to its tax base.
It may also preclude the use of tax increment financing, lavish tax breaks that cities with spilt tax rates, like Lowell, seem to hand out like candy as a business lure.
It remains to be seen if this tax-rate adjustment spurs economic activity, but we applaud councilors for taking this decisive action.
There is no substitute for substitute teachers
Filling the vacancies caused by teacher absences must qualify as the bane of every public-school system.
And that’s just exacerbated when it involves a district with about 1,000 teachers and 14,000 students.
That’s the experience of Lowell schools – and other urban systems — which typically must try to fill an average of 100 teacher positions daily.
Unfortunately, relying on substitute teachers to fill that need hasn’t met the demand.
That’s a dilemma the Lowell School Committee discussed Wednesday.
Believing low compensation as the crux of the problem, committee member Dominik Lay made a motion requesting the School Committee consider boosting substitute teacher pay.
Substitute teachers currently make about $80 to $110 per day – in line with other districts. According to Indeed.com, Fitchburg school subs make an average of $98 a day.
Member Andy Descoteaux, a former music teacher at Lowell High, suggested a $20 daily raise.
Other variables beyond pay factor into this lack of substitutes. Urban school districts present additional challenges, ones that someone without an education background may be reluctant to take on.
We doubt an extra $20 or so a day will increase substitute teacher numbers. Utilizing paraprofessionals, who are already familiar with the students and possess the requisite skills, seem the best option to fill this void.
