GEORGETOWN – The residents of this town are likely to face difficult choices this spring in deciding if and how they will pay for a proposed $6 million property tax increase.
Town officials – the SelectBoard, the Finance Advisory Board and the Town Administrator – plan to use the next several months to create what they called a “tax override menu,” while warning that if the ballot gets too complicated, voters will be confused and probably vote it down.
SelectBoard Chair Daryl Lamonica said he does not want to give residents only a binary choice – yes or no – on the override. “I like options,” he said.
Some possible ballot options are:
- Will residents vote yes or no on approving such a large tax increase, which is estimated to cost the owner of a $750,000 home an extra $2,000 in 2026 taxes and beyond?
- Will the tax increase be spread over two years — $4 million next year and $2 million the following year – as the town’s Finance Advisory Committee voted?
- Will voters be allowed to approve tax increases separately for specific departments and functions, such as the schools, police and fire enhancements?
- Will the voters agree to put about $1 million in reserve funds, including a special needs student fund, to avoid having to vote again on tax increases for five years?
The town turned down a proposed $2.5 million tax override last year. If Town Meeting or the voters turn down a tax override in May, Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco and his finance team project that the current operating budget will have to be cut by $800,000.
Alicia Raspa, the finance advisory committee vice chair, said if the override is defeated, the town may not be able to fund the Council on Aging or the fire department may have to stop providing overnight service. Pacheco said having the library open on Thursdays may be a luxury the town cannot afford.
If Town Meeting approves the tax increase, the town would hold an election for the voters to approve or reject the increase.
Committee Chair Ed Dobie, who personally favored asking for a one-year $6 million increase, described the town as being at a “crossroads.” He said he is worried about whether the residents will approve such a large tax increase, but equally worried that they won’t vote for it.
How did Georgetown get in this predicament?
Lamonica at last week’s meeting noted that the last override Georgetown approved was 13 years ago. And Pacheco explained that the state’s payment to the town is about 1 percent per year. With inflation, required services from the state and demands from the residents for improved services, the town’s budget rises much faster than 1 percent.
As a result, the town has used reserve funds, including $500,000 last year, and one-time revenue increases to postpone a large override, officials said. Now the town is forced to choose between less services and higher taxes.
Over the next several months, each department head will be asked to present to the SelectBoard and Finance Advisory Committee what cuts could be made in the department’s operations. ♦
