Boston Wants Tax On City's Students

To make up for huge reductions in property tax revenue as a result of Proposition 2 1/2, Boston officials yesterday proposed a series of new taxes on company payrolls, parking lots, real estate sales, hospitals and hotel rooms--and university students.

The new taxes would generate about $80 million if all were approved, city sources said. Boston officials have said in the past that 3500 or more city workers face layoffs without new aid.

Current estimates predict that Boston will lose between $97 million and $120 million through Proposition 2 1/2, the controversial measure limiting property taxes to 2.5 per cent of fair market value, which Massachusetts voters approved last November.

The proposed taxes include:

--a one per cent tax on company pay-rolls.

--a 10 per cent tax on parking lots and garages.

--a one per cent tax on hospital fees.

--a one per cent tax on the selling price of real estate.

--a 1.3 per cent tax on hotel and motel rooms.

--a $75 tax on full-time college students and a $20 fee on part-timers.

Students contacted at Harvard Medical School yesterday reacted negatively to the student head-tax.

"I don't see why we out-of-town college students should shoulder the burden of a decision made by local voters," John A. Hammond, a first-year student from Pennsylvania said.

"It's an idiotic idea, but standard Massachusetts thinking: tax the hell out of 'em for programs that aren't needed," Ned B. Elmer, a second year student from New Hampshire explained.