Open space subsidy stays
Taxpayers, city, local business to shoulder funding Greenway
The state, city and private businesses will pour a combined $14 million into the Rose Kennedy Greenway over the next six years, according to a newly announced deal that will keep taxpayer dollars flowing to the park’s budget despite longstanding calls to wean the nonprofit operation off public funds.
MassDOT officials yesterday agreed in principle to a new 10-year lease with the Greenway Conservancy that includes a shorter state subsidy and — for the first time — financing from City Hall and the private properties that abut the 17-acre downtown park.
Under the deal, the state is committing another $5.25 million over six years, including $1.25 million next year. The subsidy expires in 2023, after which MassDOT officials say they’ll renegotiate. They did not release a copy of the agreement, arguing that not all parties had signed it.
The agreement comes less than a year after Gov. Charlie Baker said his “hope” was to cut state funding from the park’s operating budget in the “nottoo-distant future.”
That goal now appears far off, and Baker’s top transportation aide indicated the state is willing to keep providing support as long as the city and businesses do.
“For purposes in negotiations, we made it clear that if others didn’t step up, I was prepared to zero it out. And I was,” Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said of state funding. “But now that we have a four-way collaboration, MassDOT is certainly willing to do its part.”
Pressed if she envisions an eventual end to state funding, Pollack said officials are “committed” to the current agreement.
“And we’re happy to have the partnership continue, as long as we have other partners,” she said.
Under the agreement, the city will give $250,000 annually starting in fiscal year 2019. Meanwhile, at least 20 businesses have already committed to creating a new Business Improvement District in which they’d pay more in taxes, with the goal of funneling $1 million to the Greenway’s operational budget each year, plus another $500,000 to support other projects at the park.
Like the state funding, the city’s agreement — if approved by the City Council — would also be up for “re-evaluation” in 2023, said Michael Nichols, the conservancy’s chief of staff
“I think all the parties will be constantly re-evaluating the partnership,” he said.
The announcement followed months of talks between the state, city, conservancy and abutting properties, during which the state appeared cool publicly to continuing to prop up the conservancy’s $5 million operating budget.
Pollack revealed in May that the nonprofit had once offered a proposal that included another decade of subsidies, an offer she said state officials “were not happy with.” She also said that she had “very explicit conversations” with the nonprofit that her intention “is to be out of the operating subsidy business and see others ... step up to the plate.”
But yesterday, Pollack contended that the “stated goal” was only for MassDOT to not be the lone source of funds. That differs greatly from comments Baker made last June when he said that for years the “stated goal” — using the same phrase — has been to wean the nonprofit from state support.
“I certainly hope and expect that that will take place at some point in the nottoo-distant future,” he told the Herald at the time.
Asked yesterday if Baker had changed his stance, a spokesman would only say that he’s pleased others are now paying toward the budget, “while significantly reducing the state’s financial share.”
Greg Sullivan, the former state inspector general now at the Pioneer Institute, said it’s encouraging others are now willing to shoulder the park’s costs, but it shouldn’t stop there.
“It’s good progress, but nobody should give up on the goal of filling the balance with philanthropic giving,” he said.