$3.28m override on ballot

The fate of nearly 30 teaching posts and two branch libraries may be on the line Tuesday, as Wellesley voters decide on a basket of tax-hike proposals that total $3.28 million.

The largest of the three Proposition 2 1/2 override questions seeks $3.159 million, 85 percent of which would go to the schools.

A second question seeks $45,000 to keep the recycling center open Sundays. The third question requests $75,600 to keep open the Hills and Fells branch libraries; it is seen as a test of public support for a foundation's effort to convert the branches to private funding over the next five years.

If all questions pass, the tax bill would go up about $300 on a house assessed at the median value of $799,000.

Town officials say the extra spending is necessary to help the town juggle high expectations from residents about their schools, police, and roads with the demands of mounting healthcare, energy, and special education costs.

''It's a little bit of a perfect storm we're in the midst of at the moment," said Hans Larsen, the town's executive director.

Before the town can expect some relief, it will need to absorb an increase in school spending to cover rising enrollment and building repair and renovation projects, Larsen said.

''I expect we'll pull through this storm and we'll get into a better cycle," he said.

Asked about specific steps to curb costs, Larsen said he is asking departments to compare their spending to other towns, find ways to reduce energy consumption, and pool resources.

With proper planning, Wellesley could stagger its overrides and not hit up taxpayers every year, he said.

Last year, voters approved a $2.6 million override. They rejected, by just 17 votes, a $3.6 million tax hike that would have funded the branch libraries and a popular Spanish-language program for elementary school students. The libraries were eventually saved by a fund drive.

Since 1983, Wellesley voters have been asked 14 times to approve tax increases for the operating budget. Voters have said yes eight times and no six times. The biggest request approved was $2.8 million, which passed by a slim margin in 2003.

School officials say that if this year's override fails, they would have to cut 14 elementary school teachers, six middle school teachers, and seven high school teachers. Some administrative and staff posts would be cut, as well.

''The bulk of the school budget is people," Larsen said. ''If you want to cut the school budget, you cut people."

An override defeat would also more than double fees for high school athletes, from $150 to $400 per sport; and it would raise student parking from $250 to $360.

''If the override were to fail, I think cuts proposed will fundamentally change Wellesley's public school system" by increasing class sizes and cutting academic programs, said Laura Hockett, cochairwoman of the Yes for Wellesley campaign.

The group has sent out e-mails and newsletters and has distributed signs urging voters to support the tax increase.

Hockett, who has three children in elementary school, said that Wellesley's repeated requests for overrides have given voters a chance to scrutinize the budget.

''I don't think override means it's any indictment of spending," she said. ''It forces a critical review. . . . it's an effective process."

One of the town's best known override opponents, Royall Switzler, couldn't disagree more. Switzler, a former selectman who was a state representative in 1980 when Proposition 2 1/2 became law, said that overrides should only be used in an emergency. Now, he said, they are becoming the norm.

Switzler, a Wellesley High School graduate whose three children attended the town's schools, singled out education as the biggest problem. He argues that the salaries of administrators should be cut.

Switzler is supporting the Wellesley Taxpayers Association's HAD IT campaign. The acronym stands for Homeowners against Drastically Increasing Taxes.

''I think people have had it," said Switzler, predicting the override's defeat. ''I think we want to send this back to the drawing

Larry Shind, a former selectman and current Town Meeting member who has a ''Yes" sign outside his own home, predicted that the override would pass. ''I think people are going to support it, realizing there's just no alternative," he said.

Last year, 53 percent took part in the override referendum.

Town Clerk Kathleen Nagle said that with more than 600 absentee ballots in by the middle of last week, she expects a record override turnout of 60 to 70 percent.

Proposition 2 1/2 caps the increase in total taxes a municipality can collect from one year to the next at 2.5 percent plus revenue generated by new growth.

If the main override question fails, Town Meeting will be reconvened to adjust the budget, Larsen said.