Debate over Boston’s new residential property tax hike dominated discussion at the South End Forum last week.

The Forum, a public meeting of neighborhood leaders, elected representatives and city officials, is held every few months as a place of discussion and transparency. This month, seven elected officials gathered to talk about the tax, and residents were not pleased with what they had to say.

The 13 percent tax increase on residential properties for 2026 comes because the city’s costs are rising, and the state has not approved home rule legislation that would allow it to shift some of that tax responsibility onto commercial property owners.

“We are hearing from residents every single day about how they cannot internalize this tax increase,” City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune said at the meeting. “Which is why I remain supportive of this home rule petition, which is why the House has supported the home rule petition. There have been alternatives, but there’s been no movement and no work on those alternatives.”

Councilor Ed Flynn said he thought the city had a spending problem.

“We have to demonstrate fiscal responsibility, accountability, and transparency,” Flynn said. “I don’t think we’re there right now. We have had a lot of hires over the last many years, and that’s hurting the city.”

The legislation to shift the burden to commercial properties has been sitting in the state clerk’s office since March. State Senator Nick Collins has repeatedly blocked it, saying at the meeting that the city should consider other avenues, like putting its “significant surplus funds” towards tax relief, which it has done previously for issues like housing.

The debate lasted for half of the two-hour meeting. But residents were having none of it.

“We talked a lot about revenue,” one resident said. “Has the city considered spending less money? I realize the mayor talked about a two percent cut from her departments, but why not five percent? Why not 10 percent? Residents are sitting on a 10 percent year-over-year property tax increase. Why can’t you tighten it up?”

“This feels like some political debate between the city and the state, which I don’t really care about,” another said.

“What I care about is that the city is livable for my neighbors. That families can continue to afford to live here. I think commercial landlords can afford a little bit of an increase. And I’m really concerned about the fact that the Senate has been sitting on this for nine months. This squabbling back and forth, it’s not effective, and it doesn't make me feel that I have confidence in my government, and it’s just been really disappointing.”

The room, including multiple electeds, applauded for this last remark. The next day, the City Council unanimously passed the 13 percent property tax increase.

The Forum also featured its standard discussions of neighborhood association updates, trash disposal contracts, and improvements to the drug situation around Mass. and Cass. Officials from the Boston Police Department and the Boston Public Health Commission said they had increased police presence and needle clean-up efforts. Residents also praised the five-person Coordinated Response Team, which deals with treating drug users on the front lines and getting them to supportive services.

“ I never thought I’d be saying this, but things have improved, dramatically” Worcester Square Neighborhood Association co-president Andrew Brand said. Worcester Square has been one of the neighborhoods hit hardest by the city’s drug crisis. “Some of that is due to the weather and some of that is due really to increased enforcement, and it’s been a success. Work isn’t all done yet, and we need to make sure that this continues throughout next summer.”