Who Sent the $6 Million Override Letter?
Some residents of Georgetown received what has been called a “near-anonymous letter” urging them to vote for the upcoming $6+ million Proposition 2 1/2 tax increase/override next month. The letter stated that it came from “Fund Our Future Georgetown.”
As the expenditure of funds by an organization to affect a municipal ballot question falls under the purview of the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), we contacted OCPF and were directed to secure a copy of the mailer’s organization form from the town clerk.
School Committee Chair Michael Hinchliffe, M.E. Hinchliffe@gmail.com, 978-989-3019 of 93 West Main Street is listed as the treasurer of the organization responsible for reporting of all funds.
The chair was joined by fellow member Joseph Maribito Jr of 17 Pillsbury Lane, jmaribito@yahoo.com, 508-560-6410, and Georgetown Education Foundation Board Member Tara Reed of 2 Ilene Circle, 978-430-8081 and David Millman of 56 Baldpate Road, 617-410-4490.
If a person had not gone to the town clerk’s office they would not know that key members from the schools had sent the mailing. Why they chose not to place their names on the mailing is a matter of some discussion in the community, with questionings of “transparency” and such. Perhaps an oversight by the school members.
We readily shared the image of the group’s public disclosure form with all who have asked, and it has since appeared in various social media.
Fuzzy Math
But, what has received some poignant discussion is the math used both in the mailing as well as in online postings.
In short, the mailing, for some, obfuscates $255 per year with $1,980 per year.
The Mailing Details
The mailing states that the Georgetown Tax rate is below the average rate for Essex County, citing an Essex County rate of $11.40 per $1,000 of house evaluation, vs. Georgetown’s $11.06 per $1,000. One concludes that the implication is that Georgetown residents should be taxed more: an additional 34 cents per $1,000 of property assessment.
The mailing places the cost of the override alongside that assessment declaration at $165 per month for a home assessed at $750,000.
The 34 cents increase on the tax rate is not detailed, but the math is simple: it would yield $255 PER YEAR, but the override seeks a minimum of $1,980 PER YEAR.
Moving Forward
Leaving aside the strange comparisons, and claims online that the increase in property taxes that many received this year of approximately $1,000 would increase another $2,000 when the override passes, and increase also with the application of the Community Preservation tax, some have done the math and estimate that property owners can expect to pay an increase ranging from $200 to $400+ extra per month.
Tax Estimators?
An online tax estimator posting was taken down off one Facebook page, and some have charged that similar deletions of questioning of aspects of tax increases have occurred.
The cost of the override can be determined at: https://georgetownbudget.com/ (more on that website later in this article). Residents, however, are also directed to calculate their total tax levy using the town assessor’s webs page which states: “To calculate your FY 2025 tax liability, divide your property value by 1,000 and multiply the result by $11.06. For residential property, there is an additional 3% surcharge for CPA (Community Preservation Act) calculated on the value minus $100,000.” (CPA is not charged on the first $100,000 of a property’s value.)
Mass. Teacher’s Association
Last week, the Massachusetts Teachers Association weighed in, mailing postcards to residents warning that failure to increase taxes will result in “families move out. New ones stop moving in,” and that “crime rises, response times slow – safety goes down,” and that homeowners can expect slower response times from the fire department. The MTA mailing states: “It’s our town becoming less safe, less desirable, and less valuable – almost overnight. It will be devastating.”
The MTA concludes with “No funding, No future.”
Save Your House Foundation
Earlier this year, Georgetown Selectman Chair Daryle J. Lamonica rang a similar alarm bell, noting that if residents did not add two requested new firefighters they should not be surprised if it takes the firefighters 45 minutes to show up to save your foundation. He urged “educating residents” on the dangers of not passing the override.
No Override for Another 3-5 Years
Vice Chair of the town’s Finance and Advisory Committee, Alicia Raspa, earlier this year presented an interactive spreadsheet modeling the divergence of increase spending vs. income and projecting widening deficits showing that changes have to be made.
According to the town’s finance committee, as well as the school leaders’ mailing, if the override passes, the current as well as new spending (hires and future raises) and new commitments will not require another override for “3-5 years.”
Additionally, the board and others have noted that if the $6 million override is not passed, the town will have to cut $800,000 from the budget, resulting in layoffs of school staff, and lowering of services.
14.2% Solution Promoted on
Public Relations Firm Website
The Finance and Advisory Committee’s recommendations for an override are reflected as a 14.2% budget increase proposal as viewed at https://georgetownbudget.com/town/. The site is apparently engaged to educate voters with information on the budget. The site is maintained by the John Guilfoil Public Relations firm.
For the Future
Fin Com Chair Edward Dobie noted in his meeting of January 15, 2025 (the meeting held to make a decision to seek an override or take other actions) that “we all believe in the town. We may have disagreements … but we all agree that we want the best town possible, not just for us but for the people who come after us, we don’t want to leave a mess.”
“I don’t want people to be afraid at night that if they get ill and they make a phone call, no one is going to come,” he said.
All Fin Com members appear unified in either promoting the override, or urging residents to learn more about the override and town spending.
More information about the override is expected be forthcoming each week as the voting dates become closer, as residents are urged to learn more, participate, and vote.♦
