Thursday, 4:30 PM
It's override time in Massachusetts
By John C. Drake, Globe Staff
Forget about all that wet snow that dropped on us Friday. Spring is around the corner, and that means voters throughout the Commonwealth will be deciding whether to raise their property taxes.
The Globe has a new blog, Override Central, to keep you up to date on the talk about taxes in town halls, schools, dinner tables and on local blogs throughout the Boston area. It can be found at boston.com/overridecentral
Will your property tax bill be fatter this year? Will your child’s teachers be getting a raise? Will your library stay open on the weekends? The answers depend on how far your town leaders can stretch a dime and a nickel and whose arguments win out if the numbers don't add up.
According to the folks at the Massachusetts Municipal Association, 17 towns have scheduled override votes under the tax limitation law known as Proposition 2 1/2. Another 21 are considering ballot measures. Here's a partial list.
Voters in Canton rejected an override early this year. Voters in Winchester last week passed an override.
Prop 2 1/2 was enacted in 1980, and is a beloved tool of anti-tax advocates to keep property taxes low. Last year, more towns' voters rejected override proposals than accepted them. It was the first year that had happened in a decade.
We will answer those questions, in our new blog and in the pages of our newspaper. And we also hope to hear from you. E-mail us at override@globe.com.
