Another approach to Winthrop voters
The poor economy was cited when Winthrop voters - by a nearly 2-1 ration - said no to a $1.55 million override last June that would have helped fund the schools and several town departments.
The economy is even worse this year, but town officials are hoping a choice of 10 overrides on the May 19 special election ballot - rather than a lump sum - will appeal to voters since they have a more direct say in how their tax money is spent.
The 10 overrides add up to $2.6 million. They include:
$979,073 for trash collection
$565,000 for the school department
$499,324 for the public library
$135,285 for the police department to fund two full-time patrol officer positions
$122,922 for the Council of Aging
$88,726 for the fire department to fund two full-time firefighter positions
$84,666 for three departments: Assessors ($41,003), Management of Information Systems ($14,124), and Health ($29,304)
$63,441for the Public Works Department
$50,000 for the Winthrop Planning and Grants Office
$47,124 for the Parks & Recreation Department.
If all 10 pass, the annual tax bill of an average single-family home valued at $364,000 would increase by $479. Winthrop's tax rate would go from $9.97 per $1,000 valuation to $11.29.
To see how your property tax bill could change if all 10 pass, go to http://www.town.winthrop.ma.us/Pages/WinthropMA_BBoard/0241D557-000F8513.0/towntaxes%281%29.pdf
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That is a 13% increase in property taxes!!! 13% ! ! !
Are Winthrop officials TOTALLY insane ? Or just partially . . . ???
Not only did those lucky enough to still have a job NOT receive 13% pay raises, but many are wondering how much longer they will have that job. Many families are on the verge of losing their homes - and this 13% property tax increase could be what pushes many families over the edge.
I did not see even one essential expenditure on that list. Winthrop officials: How about making some REAL budget CUTS ???? And eliminating ALL PENSIONS; and replacing them with 401K equivalents? (That is what the Federal government did decades ago!)
The Town of Winthrop laid off workers and then took some of them back and placed them again on the payroll and then the Council/Departments want an Override. The Town has already said that they will be back again next year for more plus a debt exclusion.
The School OR is for Step/Lanes for two years, as they say contractual union agreements.
The Unions all should step back and put freeze on all money contracts until the economy gets better.
The question has been asked "Are the Winthrop Officials TOTALLY insane?
The answer is "YES AND CERTIFIABLE"!
Is that all they pay for R.E.Taxes? No wonder the school system is falling apart.....welcome to the real world, you get what you pay for.
This is ridiculous, when are the people of Winthrop going to start demanding accountability of their tax dollars. We pay full fare for the turnpike tolls unlike East Boston and thisincrease is too much. Start implementing pay cuts and look for alternative ways to raise revenue before you ask for more money.
The economy still has another two years to recover, what next !!!
"Yes," to both of the above observations. Do the math. With the 2 1/2% automatic increase per year, a 13% additional increase equates to FIVE years of automatic increases in one fell swoop. Additionally, if the 13% passes, each future automatic 2 1/2 % increases will become larger, since each will be based on the new, much higher levy limit. The message here is to vote a stern "NO" on every one of these.
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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