Get The Facts!

What’s So Important?

Brookline’s fiscal challenge isn’t just about controlling costs—it’s about shaping our future, and whether we have followed through on long-term planning. For decades, the Town has identified the same core issue: our heavy reliance on residential property taxes, combined with limited growth, creates recurring budget gaps.

The challenge is not identifying the solution. The challenge is implementing it. And achieving that outcome requires leadership.

Who Did What?

After joining the Select Board in 2019, John VanScoyoc, as a member of the Select Board, had two major opportunities to lead.

BFAC and it’s implementation (2021)

In 2020, the Select Board established the Brookline Fiscal Advisory Committee (BFAC) to address the Town’s structural deficit. BFAC’s report recognized that Brookline’s long-term fiscal stability requires expanding the tax base through both housing and commercial development, supported by zoning changes.

To monitor the implementation of those recommendations, in May, 2021, Town Meeting was asked to vote on establishing a Moderator’s Committee. 

• Amanda Zimmerman voted YES.
• VanScoyoc voted NO.
• Anthony Buono was not on Town Meeting in 2021.

The measure to add Town Meeting oversight on Select Board implementation of BFAC's recommendations passed overwhelmingly: 179 YES, 24 NO.

Boylston Street Corridor Study (2022)

In 2020, Select Board Member John VanScoyoc chaired the Boylston Street Corridor Planning Study Committee, which was set up by the Select Board to develop a rezoning proposal for lower Boylston St (Route 9 from Washington Street to Brington Road), a site identified in the 2005 Comprehensive Plan for potential growth.

After more than two years of a deliberative process the result was proposed Warrant Article 15.

But when faced with neighborhood opposition at the very end of the process, VanScoyoc called for a pause. He argued that “doing nothing is the best thing for our credibility.” The article was ultimately withdrawn without a vote, and VanScoyoc has done nothing since to bring it back to the table.

 An important opportunity to begin adding net new tax revenue was lost.

Why Does It Matter?

Brookline has spent decades identifying how to expand its tax base and strengthen its financial position. The challenge is not lack of analysis—its follow-through.

Over 70% of Brookline’s revenue comes from property taxes. Limiting development limits revenue—and drives repeated override requests. The BFAC report was explicit: Brookline must allow more businesses and more residents to be a part of our community, and enact zoning changes that increase tax revenue and reduce pressure on residents.   

That requires leadership—especially given the high voting thresholds for zoning changes. Other Select Board members have shown that leadership—most notably Paul Warren in advancing the MBTA Communities zoning, and Michael Rubenstein with Michael Sandman in shepherding the current Chestnut Hill overlay through community engagement to zoning Warrant Articles and finally, passing in Town Meeting.

When opportunities to act are delayed or withdrawn, the Town continues to rely on short-term solutions, like repeated overrides, rather than addressing the underlying structural issues.

The Bottom Line

Leadership means bringing plans forward, working through opposition, building consensus, and seeing that through to a vote. Brookline cannot afford leaders who continually abdicate or delay their responsibilities. 

What's So Important?

In November, 2020 Town Meeting  voted on Article 13, a home rule petition asking the State to grant Brookline the authority to “establish a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption (emphasis added) similar to the Town of Sudbury's Means-Tested Senior Citizen Tax Exemption but which is restricted to qualifying seniors who do not also qualify for the Town of Brookline's Senior Tax Deferral Program.”

How Did They Vote?

• Amanda Zimmerman vote Yes for the Home Rule Petition to allow Brookline to establish a means-tested Senior Citizen Tax Exemption.
• John VanScoyoc voted No for the Home Rule Petition to allow Brookline to establish a means-tested Senior Citizen Tax Exemption.
• Anthony Buono was not yet elected to Town Meeting in 2020

The Resolution passed with 182 Yes, 34 No, and 12 Abstentions.

Why Does It Matter?

In October 2020, a Moderator’s Committee reported on its charge: “to investigate ways to use Brookline's tax policies to deal with the dilemma faced by those senior Brookline homeowners on fixed incomes who are finding it increasingly difficult to pay their rising property taxes and yet still want to continue living in their Brookline home”. That report became the Resolution voted on in November 2020's Article 13. 

In order to implement ways to support property tax relief for eligible seniors the Town would need permission from the State. This resolution would give Brookline permission to provide one way to assist seniors to age in place in their Brookline home. 

Since then, Brookline implemented property tax relief for seniors.

Learn More

The Committee’s proposal was modeled on the “highly successful Sudbury Means-Tested Senior Tax Exemption program that has been in effect in Sudbury since 2014. Under this revenue-neutral program, no senior homeowner who qualifies for the program is required to pay property taxes on their home or condo greater than 10 percent of their total household income so long as they pay at least 50 percent of their total annual property tax bill.”

The Committee found that “this group of senior homeowners with incomes low enough to qualify for the CB have a median income of $27,400 and share the following characteristics:

• 77% are female (vs. 57% of all Brookline seniors)
• 72% are unmarried (vs. 44% of all Brookline seniors)
• 63% live alone (vs. 47% of all Brookline seniors)
• 50% are age 80 and over (vs. a median age of 72.6 for all Brookline seniors)
• 95% are white, non-Hispanic
• 22% (103 households) still have mortgages on their home
• 73% spend more than 30% of their total household income on housing costs (vs. 29% of all Brookline senior homeowners)3 (This is considered by many economists to be a sign of a household experiencing serious economic stress.)
• 39% (186 households) of the CB-qualified households spend more than 50% of their total household income on housing costs. This is considered an indication of extreme financial stress. These approximately 186 senior homeowner households make up 4.6% of Brookline's total senior homeowner population. 49% of these households have mortgages.

The majority of Town Meeting voted to ask the State for permission to grant property tax relief to that group of seniors.  

What's So Important?

In 2023 May Town election, Ballot Question 1 asked voters to approve a budget exclusion for the rebuilding of the Pierce School, a vote that would increase property taxes for a defined period. Built in 1974, the open plan school needed to be updated so it could meet ADA accessibility standards and the educational needs of all students.

On May 2nd, Question 1 passed the town-wide popular vote by 51%, or 316 votes. Later in May, John VanScoyoc added an amendment to the Town budget that would have allowed Town Meeting to overturn the results of that popular referendum.  

Why Does It Matter?

As Brookline’s legislative body, Town Meeting does have the power to overturn the will of voters. But a majority of voters approved raising their tax dollars to fund a particular school renovation project. Asking Town Meeting to overturn that popular vote would, on its face, appear undemocratic.

How Did They Vote?

• Amada Zimmerman voted No on the VanScoyoc Amendment to change the Pierce project approved by a majority of voters, and voted Yes for the Main Motion, affirming the project approved by a majority of voters.
• Anthony Buono voted No on the VanScoyoc Amendment to change the Pierce project approved by a majority of voters, and voted Yes for the Main Motion, affirming the project approved by a majority of voters.
• John VanScoyoc voted Yes on the VanScoyoc Amendment to change the Pierce project approved by a majority of voters, and voted No for the Main Motion, affirming the project approved by a majority of voters.

The VanScoyoc Amendment failed: 30 Yes, 202 No, 8 Abstentions. The Main Motion passed, 191 Yes, 42 No, 4 Abstentions.

Who did What?

John VanScoyoc actively campaigned against Question 1 before the May election. After the vote, John filed an amendment that would reduce the amount of funding for the Pierce School renovation, as well as the scope of work approved by Brookline’s voters just a few weeks before. 

Learn More

State law requires Town Meeting to affirm a debt exclusion request by a ⅔ margin for the override to go into effect. So before Town Meeting, but after the override won the popular vote earlier that month, Select Board member John VanScoyoc filed an amendment to Special Appropriation Bond Item 67, to redefine important characteristics of the Pierce renovation approved by the voters. His amendment gave Town Meeting Members the opportunity to vote against the override, and overturn the choice made at the ballot box by Brookline’s voters.

What’s So Important?

The top priority of Brookline’s streets and transportation network is to get people where they need to go. While motor vehicles are a necessity for many, they are not an efficient mode of transportation when measured by energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and the consumption of land for roads and parking. They also pose the greatest danger to life and limb. Fortunately most of Brookline is blessed with a compact layout and transit connections that make alternative means of transportation practical for many. 

Who Did What? 

• In 2025, John VanScoyoc cast the lone dissenting Select Board vote to approve a plan to redesign Washington Street to fulfill the Town’s Complete Streets policy. This project will greatly improve conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians, and includes protected bike lanes and accessible crosswalks. He has also opposed the Beacon Street Bridle Path and adding protected bike lanes on Chestnut Hill Avenue.
• Amanda Zimmerman names "Safe Streets for All" as one of the four cornerstones of her campaign. She has served on the Open Space and Recreation Planning Committee as well as the Bicycle Advisory Committee, and has consistently supported the Washington Street Project, the Beacon Street Bridle Path, protected bike lanes on Chestnut Hill Avenue, and the South Brookline to BHS Bicycle Access Plan.
• Anthony Buono, like Amanda Zimmerman, believes providing multi-modal roadway safety is central to maintaining Brookline’s future vibrancy. 

See Biking Brookline’s comparison of Select Board Candidates for more details of Select Board candidate support for Brookline’s biking infrastructure.

Why Does It Matter?

Our walkable, climate-friendly neighborhoods work best when more of us can get around safely without driving. The most loyal customers of our cherished local businesses are often those who do not have to get behind the wheel to reach them. To keep our neighborhoods vibrant and thriving, we need to make our streets safe and comfortable places for cyclists and pedestrians. 

Learn More

In addition to our Complete Streets policy, Brookline adopted a Vision Zero plan in 2025, with the goal of completely eliminating traffic deaths. And here are other Town policies that promote multimodal and accessible transportation, bicycle infrastructure, and traffic calming. 

But none of these policies will become reality on our streets without the right leadership and commitment.