One month before the first day of spring, the Vineyard summer home rental market is sluggish, with many agents saying that advance bookings this year are down between 10 and 15 per cent — at least so far. The news from the Steamship Authority matches the trend, with advance reservations for automobiles down about 12 per cent from this time last year.

A new bill authored by Cape Cod lawmakers that would extend a 9.75 per cent lodging tax currently in place for hotels to weekly rentals has already stoked opposition both here and across the state, primarily among real estate brokers and people who rent their homes during the summer months for extra income.

A new review of the Bradley Square affordable housing project in Oak Bluffs last Thursday by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission brought a fresh round of criticism from neighbors and abutters.

Opponents remain firm in their position that the project is too large for the neighborhood, despite changes that have been made to the plan. The commission closed the public hearing and is scheduled to deliberate and possibly vote on the project at its regular meeting on Feb. 19.

The Martha’s Vineyard Commission last week unanimously approved a revised budget for next year which does not increase assessments for the six Island towns.

But it does preserve salary increases of about four per cent for commission staff.

MVC chairman Christina Brown, an elected member from Edgartown, opened last Thursday’s discussion by explaining that the commission’s budget was drafted before recent cuts in state aid by Gov. Deval Patrick.

More Island workers than ever are without jobs and seeking unemployment benefits this winter.