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Image via the Massachusetts Department of Revenue
— Quincy Massachusetts News by Quincy Quarry News – News, Opinion and Commentary.
Minions in inaction
A Universal Pictures mage
This past Monday’s Quincy City Council meeting of mostly lame duck city councillors was the first time ever that the usual single meeting approval of what needs to be done to approve property tax rates for the coming year is going to be held over at least two city council meetings.
Reasons include that the Koch Maladministration has yet to score necessary Department of Revenue approvals of various accountings of the city’s books.
Accordingly, the only things addressed at Monday’s meeting were over the mundane continuation of how property taxes are to be allocated and imposed upon property owners. In brief, mostly but how commercial sorts of property will continue to face a 75% premium tax rate per $1,000 of assessed value than do residential property.
Calculating taxes
A file photo
Discussion of the tax rates per $1,000 of assessed value, however, determining tax rates are apparently not yet determined and perhaps may not be certified by the Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services.
The rub?
The Koch Maladministration did not budget for a roughly $3 million increase in school department payroll given a new union contract with teachers nor a $16 million pension fund assessment levied by the Massachusetts Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission as the city’s pension fund is both not hitting plan on its needed rate of return to cover it actual pension obligations as well as a cost of living of living increase to pension payouts is not funded.
You wanna piece of me?
A file photo
Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, on the other hand, has taken a defiant stand that the PERAC assessment need not be paid even though the city’s pension fund is underfunded, however, applicable state law not only mandates that assessment be funded but also that the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services will not certify Quincy’s 2026 tax rates if the assessment is not duly funded via the CY 2026 property tax levy.
Net/net, the $19 million in total in spending obligations not duly in the mayor’s approved FY 2026 budget will see koched-up city spending up by $55 million from FY 2025 spending — a new record spending dollar increase going away — as well as a roughly 13% also record-breaking spending increase on a percentage basis.
Follow the money. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MONEY!!!
An oxycom.com image
In turn, to cover the $59 million increase in FY 2026 city spending obligations duly funded, the quants on the Quincy Financial and Other Affairs Desk are projecting a just under 10% to leaning on 12% increase in property taxes as likely.
In response to limp questioning by city councillors, Koch Administration spokesmodel Pinocchio Walkbacker posed a particulars-free statement that discussions about a plan were in the works and the council should expect to be able to approve CY 2026 property tax rates at next Monday’s city council meeting.
In short, do not hold your breath about anything other then ugly property tax increases hitting the fan in 2026 on the order of as noted above.
Shooting rubber-stamping lame ducks in a barrel
An istock image
At the same time, there is some good news.
The lame duck city council president was a bit less snippy than usual as well as that council members appeared to agree to continue the allowance of public comment at next week’s meeting once actual tax rates for 2026 might actually be in place and so known.
After all, someone pointed out during public comment time at this past Monday’s council meeting that to not also allow public comment at next week’s meeting posed a likelihood that not allowing public comment at next week’s meeting could well be an Open Meeting Law violation and which would only make an already koched-up mess into an even greater koched-up mess.
Angry locals
An old Universal Pictures image
Needless to say, next Monday’s city council meeting will surely prove to be interesting.
Accordingly, Quincy Quarry’s ever-growing legions of loyal readers can count on the Quarry to wade through blood if need be to report on next Mondays’ council meeting.
The new Councilors should ask the Mayor why taxpayers are subsidizing take home vehicles for so many employees. Oh, and guess who pays their gas? How many employees take cars home? It’s a luxury to have a car at your disposal. Is this in their contract or is this just another “Thanks” for donating?
Why does the Mayor need a cop driving him around in a luxury SUV? Does Koch think this is NYC? Ever hear the phrase “Power Corrupts….?”
Sheets used to drive himself around in his own little car as did Tobin and Phelan with their own rides.
The Fire & Police Departments have unlimited budgets. They keep promoting more supervisors & guess who they all seem to donate to??? Wink Wink.
The council needs to reign in this guy on the spending. Could it be the citizens who sued about the statues and his outrageous raise had a crystal ball & knew our taxes were going to skyrocket because of his spending! Koch sues anyone who disagrees with him but he uses taxpayer money & often using outside law firm$.
Look at the lawyers who have made millions over the Long Island Bridge (I wonder if they donate-Wink Wink)….
Every week dthere is a statue unveiling, promotion ceremony or a tree lighting ceremony & it is all to mask his out of control spending & the fact they know we are in huge debt & our taxes are going up.
The fire & the police praise him because Koch gives them an open checkbook & he has become Santa Clause to them delivering new fire trucks, equipment, supervisors, take home cars & they know where their bread is buttered so guess who they donate to? Wink Wink…. Imagine being a City Councilor & being told how to vote & to know you are just a stooge sitting there for Koch?
Imagine the wide awakening Koch is going to get when this new Council calls him and his staff out on his BS? I think we could raise revenue making the 2026 City Council Meetings pay per view! The Councilors should seriously take a look at the donations to Koch’s Campaign & the absolute luck those who donate have in getting promoted or having permits and variances approved. It really a better investment than Crypto these days! The taxpayers are not going to put up with the 2025 Koch Club in 2026.
Seems like the long knives are out for “dopey” DiBona.
Even the lame duck council president embarrassed the failed candidate for registrar of deeds, by stating, “Noel you don’t even understand the tax classification(ouch).”
And the POS Walkbacker was lying through his yellow tobacco stained teeth every time he opened his mouth.
Also notice his chair violently shaking every time he spoke.
Keep up the good work Carl!
I saw a Facebook Group some woman runs talking about the million dollar statues & how great they are in a budget crisis and the Firemen were not happy with DiBona.
We know the Police & Fire Unions —— The Committee to Re-Elect Koch —– simply expect councilors to sit there & rubber stamp all their toys, promotions & overtime. After all they drive home to Hanover & other bedroom towns which use a mixed full time / on call fire department & somehow their expensive houses seem to do okay.
Those affluent towns won’t spend the huge tax money Quincy does for “Public Safety.” Did you know that if firemen in Quincy ever worked a 40 hour work week we would be able to make huge personnel cuts. They work 24 hours shifts 9 days a month! But they still get full vacation & sick benefits. Figure it out on paper. If you only work 9 shifts a month and get 7 weeks vacation & holidays plus sick time…… Not a bad deal! It’s why so many of them have time to be on Facebook blogs supporting Koch & crying if a councilor dares to ask about the tax rate.
How dare this Councilor ask questions without the Fire Union’s approval! Maybe the new Council should start asking questions about ways we can save tax money. Maybe a quick prayer to St. Florian & St. Michael for guidance!
The lame duck council president admitted that he had gone through this process for many years and still does not understand it. So, I had to wonder if he has repeatedly voted for the process he does not understand, and will he do so again.
John,
The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.
I am no fan of the Chief of Staff and the Mayor’s liaison, but I felt his pain when the topic of eminent domain being used to take the Planet Fitness location was going around in a circle due to the line of questioning from a well coiffed, well dressed incumbent councilor.
John,
While you are likely right that Mr. Walkbacker is a liaison of the mayor’s, his job title is spelled Chief of Staph.
Regardless, have you noticed his recent enough hair transplant? Turkish?
Noticed that the agenda items that could reduce the FY26 tax rate don’t list any dollar amounts. That hasn’t happened in recent memory. Should be an interesting meeting. Buckle up!
Poly,
Got popcorn?
Please explain how this many increases in the 10% range get around prop 2.5? I thought increases capped at 2.5%
Funny,
Quick and dirty: last year Quincy did not tax to the Prop 2 1/2 max and so has available taxing capacity to impose a 10% tax increase on local property owners, albeit likely only barely.
By the Quarry’s estimate would this be the last year they can do these big increases and get around prop 2.5%?
Funny Math,
Funny you should ask. The quants on the Quincy Quarry News Financial and other affairs desk have been working the numbers.
While it’s a bit early in the going, it would appear that our peerless mayor is looking at a clipped credit limit on his City of Quincy AMEX card going forward.