$1.9 million override in the offing

By Scott Merzbach and NICK GRABBE
Staff Writers

Published on February 05, 2010

Ballot language for a $1.9 million Proposition 2½ tax-cap override, which would allow Amherst to preserve many municipal services and keep intact core programs at its schools and libraries, will be determined next week.

The Select Board is scheduled to discuss the size and format of the override that will be part of the March 23 election ballot at its Monday meeting, and must decide on the final ballot language by Feb. 16, said Chairwoman Stephanie O'Keeffe.

"Asking for an override is a solemn responsibility for elected officials at a time when we're in a deep recession and people are hurting," she said. "Our goal is to shape the override as responsibly as possible."

The annual tax increase for the average property, assessed at $334,600, would be $298 if the override is successful, said John Musante, the assistant town manager.

Because local taxes are deductible on federal taxes, the effective average cost for those in a 15 percent tax bracket would be $253 a year and $214 for those in a 28 percent tax bracket, he said.

O'Keeffe said that Budget Coordinating Group is expected to produce a recommendation to guide the board in its decision.

O'Keeffe said she expects the amount will be determined by what town officials and committees deem is important to save. Cut lists have already been prepared by Town Manager Larry Shaffer, school Superintendent Alberto Rodriguez and library Director Bonnie Isman.

"No one is asking for every cut to be restored," O'Keeffe said. "We're asking for a fraction of the cuts to be restored."

Under the current plans, successful passage of an override would mean an additional $537,000 in revenue for the town, which would bring next year's town budget to $18.68 million. Musante said that there have been cuts totaling twice the amount of the override.

School, library support

An override would also mean $1.1 million in money for the regional schools, $176,000 for the elementary schools and $88,000 in additional tax support for the Jones Library.

Already, projections for state funding are better, as Gov. Patrick is proposing a budget that only cuts state aid 5 percent, not the 10 percent cut that town officials had been girding for.

On the town side, this causes $363,756 to already be restored to the budget, meaning the most significant cuts to public safety would not be part of the override.

This includes two vacant firefighter positions, one police officer position and maintaining a full-time animal welfare officer.

Still subject to the override vote would be two laborers at the Department of Public Works, a customer assistant in the town clerk's office and at Leisure Services, and half of all street lights.

At the library, the money already restored would ensure preservation of many positions that would have hours cut, while the School Committee is expected to endorse early next week a priority cut list crafted by the superintendent.

The elementary and regional school budgets are in flux because there are so many unknowns about the amount of money available.

In addition to uncertainty over whether the override will pass, there's a wide range of possibilities about state aid, and Rodriguez is still in negotiation with the teachers union over givebacks of negotiated salary increases.

Another complication for the regional budget is that three of the four towns must agree to the level of funding for it to be enacted.

There is some question about whether Leverett and Pelham would be able to pay their assessments at the budget level provided by a successful Amherst override, said Farshid Hajir, of Leverett, chairman of the Regional School Committee.

Amherst Select Board member Gerry Weiss said the BCG members have agreed that if the town doesn't need to tax up to the full $1.9 million override amount, because of wage concessions by unions or additional state aid, it would not do so.