Swampscott selectman: Ease tax burden on businesses

SWAMPSCOTT – Selectman Jill Sullivan put forth a motion to decrease the tax burden on Swampscott businesses, though she said she knew it wouldn?t pass.Sullivan said commercial property owners were paying an unfair amount with 1.75 times the tax rate of residential property owners, though they only make up 13 percent of the town. She said she often hears complaints at Rotary meetings from business owners that doing business in town is difficult.?The 175 percent is a huge slap in the face to the business community,” said Sullivan. She suggested making a plan to decrease the rate over time.?I?m against it,” said Vice Chairman David Van Dam. “People are here to live in their homes, businesses are here to do business.”Sullivan said a lot of residents are business owners in town as well. “We don?t want a town with no commerce,” she said.Chairman Rich Malagrifa agreed with Sullivan, adding that the tax rate of Swampscott was much higher than that of Lynn and Salem, but Selectman Glenn Kessler said with his realty experience, shifting more taxes onto homeowners would drive people away from living in the town.?We?re going to make it impossible for starter families to move to Swampscott,” said Kessler. “Every real estate company in Marblehead points to the difference between what it costs to live in Marblehead and what it costs to live here.”Selectman Barry Greenfield said he would like to see a plan to move the rate of 1.75 times the residential rate down to 1.7.The Board of Assessors, present at the meeting, recommended the rate stay the same because the difference wouldn?t be felt by the consumer.?If we never start, we?re never going anywhere,” said Sullivan. She made a motion, acknowledging that it wouldn?t pass, to move the rate down to 1.7. Malagrifa seconded and voted for it, but Van Dam, Kessler, and Greenfield opposed it, and the motion did not pass.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].