Wanjiru Waweru, Jadetimes Staff
W. Waweru is a Jadetimes News Reporter Covering American News
Worcester, Massachusetts — City councilors were exasperated at Tuesday’s meeting in Worcester. This city is dealing with an almost $800,000 shortfall in tax revenue in the Polar Park financing district. However, the city manager, Eric Batista underlined this would not influence residents’ services or wallets.
“It’s actually pre-funded in the budget. So, every budget, we pre-fund based on our estimates on potentially what we see, “ said Batista. “We pre-fund that with tax levy dollars through the general fund.”
On the above of the shortfall, developer Madison Properties confirmed to the city they would be demolishing their tiff agreement for 50 Washington Street. City councilors appeared despite it for the developer, who made an announcement of the decision in a letter in the previous month.
"Quite honestly, pretty disturbing," said District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson.
"We do need to figure out a way through whatever mechanisms that we continue to hold these folks accountable," said District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj.
The property was originally discovered to be a “mixed-use office building.” Chief Development Officer Peter Dunn mentioned the pandemic and market demand as observers behind the funding project, explaining the termination to the tiff talks about its near future.
"I don't think there's a lot of confidence in seeing that building constructed," said Dunn. "For example, getting started next year or even the year following. Because it would be in his best long-term interest to keep that tiff agreement in place."
City Councilor Khrystian King reported that all opportunities, especially eminent domain, are being weighed immediately to understand that the city of Worcester has to address what is suitable for its residents.
"These are times when we have folks struggling economically with affordability," said King. "We want to make sure to the best of our ability that that area down there can be solvent financially. On many levels, the ballpark has been successful, And now we have some financial challenges here. We can't go back."
