The year was 1985, and the town of Norwood was on high alert due to a proposed new jet fuel tax in Boston that threatened to divert planes to their local airport for cheaper fuel.
The selectmen, led by Chairman John Kinnaly, were determined to take action and protect the interests of the town.
As reported in The Patriot Ledger on July 24, 1985, Kinnaly called for a similar local jet fuel tax to keep the small jets away from Norwood Airport. He warned that if no action was taken, the airport would become a hub for planes seeking cheaper fuel, and the noise from these jets could become a nuisance to neighbors.
The Boston financial bailout plan, enacted by the Legislature just last month, had imposed a 5 percent jet fuel tax and a 4 percent increase in hotel rooms tax. These taxes were designed to raise $22 million annually, but they also posed a threat to Norwood Airport’s business. Jet fuel at Wiggins Airways, located within the airport, sold for about $1.83 per gallon compared to $2 per gallon at Boston’s Logan International Airport.
Airport Commissioner Edward McKenna had previously called for close monitoring of jets flying into Norwood to see if their frequency increased as a result of the proposed tax. To avoid an influx of planes, he suggested that the town consider imposing the jet fuel tax. McKenna estimated that this tax could raise about $20,000 for Norwood.
However, not everyone was in favor of the proposal. Hotel owners in Norwood were concerned that the instituting of a jet fuel tax would hurt their business. There are two hotels in Norwood: the Best Western Conference Center and the Howard Johnson’s Motor Lodge, both located on Route 1. Chairman Kinnaly dismissed these fears, stating that he couldn’t see how the tax would negatively impact the hotel industry.
The selectmen decided to contact Town Counsel Justin C. Barton for details on how Norwood might impose a hotel tax as part of levying the jet fuel tax. This move was seen as a necessary step in protecting the town’s interests and ensuring that the airport remained a viable business hub.
As the debate surrounding the proposed jet fuel tax continued, one thing was clear: the town of Norwood was determined to take action and protect its airport from the potential consequences of the Boston financial bailout plan.
Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger
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