Quoted from mikechristine1

The problem is that if every resident won, say, a 50% reduction in the assessment value, then the tax RATE would double resulting in the same tax bill assuming no increase in spending.  But of course, this mayor just thinks it's fine to spend the taxpayer money.
     This mayor and his partners on the council, and Susie and Gillen have got to eliminate the tax exemptions for the millionaires downtown.

It's a two part problem-assessments are artificially high and the tax rate is too damn high. The only way to lower the rate is dump the horrible Mayor and 4 DEM rubber stamps in November. The only way to change the Board of Assessment review is dump the Mayor and 4 DEM rubber stamps. Re-elect no one in November.

     The DEMS have proved incapable of governing and only interested in retaining failed crony capitalism. Millionaires pay nothing-fat cat nonprofits pay nothing and the working/middle class families pick up the tab. No wonder the City median home price crashed to $107,500 while thousands of properties are abandoned.

The businesses have got to start paying their taxes, plain and simple. These tax exemptions have got to END!! If these businesses that have been lured by a 'sweet deal' to move/relocate at the taxpayers expense to state street/broadway don't start paying their fair share of taxes, there will be NOTHING left to the city.

The role of a good government, in this case the defunct city officials, is to provide a safe, harmonious climate where both residents and businesses alike shoulder the tax burden together, allowing the non-profits (eg.churches) to do their job by helping and supporting it's community.

I totally agree - but so many of them have exemptions now, that are probably guaranteed for X years, it'd probably take an act of congress to repeal them.  Stopping them from here forward is the only option