Mayor Thomas Menino yesterday re-filed his plan to tax private businesses that operate on MBTA property and are currently exempt.
“You have these for-profit entities on government land that really aren’t paying their fair share,” Transportation Commissioner Thomas Tinlin said after Menino unveiled his yearly legislative agenda at the State House.
“I couldn’t open up a coffee shop on Washington Street in the South End without being expected to pay tax, so why would I have that ability to open one in Government Center T Station and not pay that tax? The taxpayers should get something back on that.”
“They are all scraping for money these days,” a South Station vendor wishing to remain anonymous said. “It would be costly for sure. How substantial, I have no way of knowing.”
The legislation was originally filed in 2005.
