Worcester’s Dual Classification Debate: Balancing Business, Homeowners, and the City Manager’s $300K Question

The Radio Roundtable, Matt Wally, Gary Rosen, Guillermo Creamer, take on the annual debate over Worcester’s Dual Classification. Do you move to give business a break, do you always vote the lowest rate for the homeowner, is there somewhere in between? Matt is a firm believer that helping businesses in the long run helps the homeowner. That businesses have left Worcester and taken their employees with them in search of a lower rate. Gary’s not so sure that is true and he argues that the home owner must have the lowest rate just to get by. Guillermo is for a closing of the gap and agrees with Matt that a shrinking business base is bad in the long run. The panel also takes on the Manager’s contract. $300,000 may be competitive but is it a tough number for the voters of Worcester to wrap their head around when ten to fifteen years ago the manager was probably making a little over half that with all the perks that come with the contract.