Some institutions in Boston are not giving back to the city as much as requested, according to new data the Walsh administration released Monday.
Each year, the city asks medical, educational and cultural institutions to make voluntary contributions — in cash and community programs — to help make up for the fact that these institutions are exempt from property taxes, which make up 70 percent of the city’s revenue. These payments in lieu of taxes are known as the “PILOT” program, which targets not-for-profit organizations that have more than $15 million worth of tax-exempt property.
Overall, these institutions gave the city $33.6 million in cash contributions this fiscal year — $1.2 million more than last year. The cash contributions help pay for city services, which these institutions use. The payments are voluntary.
But, as in previous years, the institutions fell short of the city’s overall request. The city asked 47 institutions for more than $104 million. All together, the institutions contributed about three-quarters that amount, when taking into account the value of community programming such as scholarships, free health screenings or free museum visits.