Tax votes will have big impact

The budget troubles affecting so many Massachusetts towns this year are to come to a head in each of two communities south of Boston Tuesday, as voters in Holbrook and Randolph consider tax increase proposals that would flow from overriding the state's Proposition 2 1/2 tax-limit law.

In Randolph, a town frequently in the news over the last year for its underperforming schools, three override choices will be considered: $5.4 million for schools, $411,322 for the Police Department, and $200,000 for the Fire Department.

In neighboring Holbrook, officials decided to present a single override proposal for $2.8 million. The amount includes $1.8 million for schools and $800,000 would be used to cover increases in Blue Hills Regional Technical School costs and the Norfolk County assessment. The remaining amount would bolster the police, fire, and library budgets.

Geoff Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, said override season statewide is just beginning.

"It continues to be very difficult for cities and towns, putting together budg ets, to meet expenses," Beckwith said. "Many have gaps and I believe more and more communities will be presenting overrides."

Richard Wells, vice chairman of the Randolph Board of Selectmen, said officials decided to offer voters a choice on the ballot. "Last year, people said the only way to pass an override was to put everything in a single question," he said. "That's what we did, and it didn't pass."

The request last year was $4.1 million.

While Randolph voters never have passed a tax increase to support operational expenses, many officials say the attitude has changed after a difficult year, particularly for the schools.

"Some people out there are against the overrides, but I think there is a much stronger movement in favor," Wells said.

The requests for the Police and Fire departments are expected to pass Tuesday because they would have a minimal impact on voters' pocketbooks - $32 more in taxes a year for police and $16 more for fire on a $321,000 house.

The school override request has a more significant impact, according to assessor Richard Brown: about $450 more on that same average house's tax bill.

Randolph School Committee chairman Larry Azer said he believes parents hold the key to the school override's success. "Last year, four out of five parents didn't even vote," Azer said. "We're making a concerted effort this year to contact more parents and get them to vote."

Azer said the fallout of an override rejection this year would be devastating, particularly at the high school, which the state already has designated as "underperforming," one step away from receivership.

"The single biggest consequence would be the high school would lose its accreditation, making it harder for students to get into college along with a whole bunch of other things," Azer said. "We won't be able to continue to align our curriculum with the state, either, so it would impact test scores like the MCAS."

Other effects would be the loss of all librarians in the school system, a reduction of art and physical education offerings to twice a month, class sizes of 30 or more, and no full-day kindergarten.

Selectmen in Randolph voted unanimously to support all three tax increase questions. The Finance Committee didn't take a formal vote, but six out of seven committee members informally endorsed the three overrides.

"There seems to be very strong support in general for the Police and Fire departments," said Finance Committee member Andrew Azer, Larry Azer's brother. "And I don't think there's much questioning that the schools need the money. It's just that it's a large amount. The question is, can we afford not to pass it?"

There are those in town who are opposed to tax hikes, however, particularly increases like the one that would result if the override for the schools passes. Political watchdog Joseph Burke supports the police and fire questions because "they are small amounts," but not the school override.

"Things are just tough financially out there," Burke said. "I'd support the schools but it's just too high. My opinion is, vote what you can afford."

Still, Kathy Haire, who is chairwoman of the pro-override group Support a Future for Randolph, and whose son is a senior in Randolph High School, said she is "working on this so other children in town can have the kind of high school experience previous generations did.

"The children of Randolph deserve a good education and good programs."

In Holbrook, meanwhile, if the $2.8 million override passes, the owner of a $302,000 house will pay $595 more in property taxes per year, for a total tax bill of $4,345.

"Holbrook is now faced with either passing an override or doing away with valuable services . . . like the library, health clinics, street lighting, and recreation programs," Finance Committee chairman Gerald Prance stated in an open letter to the community posted on a pro-override website, supportholbrook.com. "Those potential cuts along with reductions in staffing in the school, Police, and Fire departments will hurt all residents of the town."

But Paul Murray, a vigorous opponent of the override, said, "We can't afford this. There are people out there that can't even buy the necessities like food and medicine. People have a simple choice: If they vote for the override, they lose their homes. People in this town are blue collar workers."

The polls in Holbrook and Randolph will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Christine Legere can be reached at christinelegere@yahoo.com.