A Boston-based alliance known as the PILOT Action Group claim that the city’s tax-exempt nonprofit institutions aren’t paying their fair share. The group says Boston’s 49 biggest institutions owe the city over $77 million under the PILOT program. While the payments are considered voluntary, all large nonprofit organizations were expected to contribute at a standard level. However, in 2017, institutions like Harvard, Boston College, and Northeastern University paid way less than the amounts requested. The authors of a report on Boston’s PILOT program say the schools can afford to meet their obligations and are shortchanging city residents on services like new bike lanes and playground renovation.
August 23, 2018