Town Meeting sends $1m override to election vote in Georgetown

Georgetown’s annual Town Meeting last night set the stage for a ballot vote next week on a proposed override of Proposition 2½.

By a show of hands, the meeting approved $1,061,822 in additional funding for the operating budget, contingent on passage of an override at the annual town election next Monday.

The vote came after the meeting approved a $22.5 million fiscal 2008 operating budget that does not include the override money. Should the ballot question prevail, 71 percent of the $1.1 million would be added to the school budget, and the remaining 29 percent to other town departments.

The override would add $334 to the tax bill of an average single-family home assessed at $412,485.

Supporters say the override is needed to help the town meet its rising costs.

"I think what this would give us is really the bare minimum level of funding to keep our heads above water," said Selectman Matt Vincent.

He said defeat of the override would mean the loss of two to three teacher jobs, a custodian, and the facilities manager in the schools; and reduced funding for the library, public works, and fire departments, among other cuts.

Vincent said the override also provides funds for an array of pressing needs, including the hiring of four to five additional teachers and a Highway Department laborer.

Selectman Lawrence Brennan opposes the tax increase, saying the requested spending is excessive.

"You can’t have everything in life, you need to make decisions," he said.

For more on the Georgetown vote, see Voters consider $1.1m override
-- John Laidler