Entries by Avonlea Cummings

Pioneer New England Legal Foundation Urges DOR to Reopen Tax Assessments Probe After Boston Makes Initial Disclosure of 150 Properties Affected by Retaliatory Assessment Increases

August 18, 2026 in , /by

BOSTON —Pioneer New England Legal Foundation has hand-delivered a fourth letter to Massachusetts Commissioner of Revenue Geoffrey E. Snyder, urging him to reopen an investigation into the City of Boston’s practice of raising the assessed value of commercial properties whose owners appeal their assessments, following the city’s initial disclosure of 150 properties affected by the retaliatory assessment increases.

A New Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Could Open Doors for Families, Pioneer New England Legal Foundation Weighs In

March 12, 2026 in /by

Pioneer New England Legal Foundation recently submitted a public comment to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding a new federal scholarship tax credit. As the agencies begin drafting regulations to determine how the new program will operate, public interest has been high—over 3,400 comments have already been submitted. 

Pioneer New England Legal Foundation and Sullivan & Worcester Sue Boston Over Retaliatory Tax Scheme

December 17, 2025 in , /by

BOSTON, MA — Pioneer New England Legal Foundation (the Legal Foundation) and Sullivan & Worcester LLP today filed on behalf of their client 148 State Street a class action lawsuit against the City of Boston, alleging that the Assessor’s Office has illegally retaliated against commercial taxpayers for exercising their constitutional right to appeal property tax assessments before the Appellate Tax Board (ATB) since 2024.

Pioneer New England Legal Foundation Files Lawsuit Challenging Cambridge Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance

December 3, 2025 in , /by

Pioneer New England Legal Foundation filed a lawsuit in state Land Court against the City of Cambridge on behalf of developer Columbia St, LLC, challenging the City’s inclusionary zoning ordinance. The ordinance requires any property owner seeking a building permit for a project of 10 units or more to permanently set aside 20 percent of the square footage for affordable housing.

PNELF: Boston Imposes Hidden Tax Penalty on Commercial Property Owners Who Appeal Assessments

June 24, 2025 in , /by

Boston — June 24, 2025 — The Pioneer New England Legal Foundation (PNELF) has sent a formal notice to Massachusetts Department of Revenue Commissioner Geoffrey Snyder asserting that the City of Boston is unlawfully retaliating against commercial real estate owners who seek to challenge their tax assessments. 
According to PNELF, the city’s Assessing Department has been quietly and systematically increasing property tax assessments on commercial properties that are under appeal at the Commonwealth’s Appellate Tax Board (ATB), imposing what amounts to a financial penalty on taxpayers who exercise their statutory rights under Massachusetts law. 

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Pioneer New England Legal Foundation is a non-partisan, public interest law firm that defends and promotes educational options, accountable government and economic opportunity across the Northeast. Pioneer New England Legal Foundation achieves its mission through legal research, amicus briefs, and litigation.

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