Copyright MassLive
Worcester voters on Tuesday approved a non-binding measure that would force private higher educational institutions to invest part of their endowments in the city. The ballot question received 16,245 in favor compared to 5,476 against, according to unofficial election results. The ballot measure calls for private colleges and universities to invest 0.5% of their endowments into a city fund designated to help “finance needed housing, economic and community development projects.” The proposal was brought forward by Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty and District 2 Councilor Candy-Mero Carlson. This proposal affects The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, College of the Holy Cross, Assumption University, Clark University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). The next step is for city officials to negotiate with the schools. Read more: Worcester Election 2025: Results for mayor, city council, school committee Worcester cannot force the schools to comply because the ballot question is non-binding, according to City Solicitor Alexandra H. Kalkounis. The push for this ballot question was primarily fueled by purchases made by three of the five institutions over the past 18 months, totaling $64 million. This includes Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s purchase of two hotels for student housing. Mero-Carlson said these purchases, which she said were made without advance notice, resulted in Worcester losing $1.8 million in tax revenue. A letter from the five institutions, however, contests this claim — reading that some of the properties mentioned by the councilors are still on the city’s tax rolls. The letter also reads that from 2023 to 2024, the five institutions paid more than $1.5 million in direct real estate taxes to the city.
