Randolph approves overrides

Breaking with recent tradition, voters in Randolph Tuesday overwhelmingly approved three tax increases that totalled more than $6 million.

School and town officials hope the money will avert a state takeover of its beleagured school system, which has been ravaged by devastating budget cuts in recent years.

Randolph voters have rejected four property tax increases in recent years, most recently $4.2 million in March 2007 for the schools and the town. But recent school woes have put more focus on the needs in the town south of Boston.

In all, four towns Tuesday considered property tax increases as Massachusetts enters a season of overrides, town budget cuts and battles on Beacon Hill over spending and taxes.