Rivals preview Newton after override
For proponents of the May 20 override request, $12 million more in tax revenue will preserve Newton's status as one of the best places to live and raise children in Massachusetts, keep class sizes reasonable, and keep police working to prevent crime in a city that regularly ranks as one of the safest in the nation for its size.
For opponents, $12 million less will mean a city administration that is forced to manage within its means and finally take responsibility for poorly negotiated union contracts, badly maintained public buildings, and a bloated, $197.5 million Newton North High School building project that has turned the city into a poster child for municipal excess.
What the two sides agree on is that, pass or fail, the Proposition 2 1/2 override will in one way or another affect a large number of the city's residents, even though the total amount represents just a fraction of Newton's overall $318 million proposed budget for the 2009 fiscal year.
If the override passes
The property tax bill for the average Newton home (valued at $802,000) would rise by $433, providing a $12 million increase in tax revenue. The increase would be split between the schools, which would receive $8.5 million, and the municipal government, which would receive $3.5 million.
On the municipal side, about $2.6 million would go to fund city services at their current level and make up for increases in the cost of health insurance, pensions for retired city workers, and the energy required to light and heat city buildings and fuel city vehicles.
The rest would be spent on a variety of initiatives, including a $450,000 payment toward preliminary design work for renovation projects at three of the city's most dilapidated elementary schools.
Another $200,000, according to the administration, would be spent on expanded road repair and construction programs. Finally, approximately $213,000 would be spent on restoring and replenishing city trees, boosting the park maintenance program, acquiring a new, faster server for the city's website, and hiring an economic development specialist.
On the school side, about two-thirds of the system's $8.5 million allotment of override funds would go toward rising fixed costs and maintaining service levels with rising enrollments, officials said.
The remaining $2.8 million would go toward hiring more than 50 new employees. About half of those new hires would be special education teachers and aides, while others would help staff new initiatives in math and literacy, a push to improve the city's middle schools, and upgraded custodial services.
If the override fails
Administrators say that the school system would eliminate 79 positions, half of them teachers. The schools would also reduce the custodial staff by six positions and cut back on music, drama, and athletic offerings.
The schools would also shelve initiatives to replace obsolete technology and increase the maintenance of school buildings. The budget for materials, supplies, and textbooks would also be cut.
On the municipal side, a failed override would result in the elimination of 40 positions. Of those, 14 would be current vacancies in the Police Department which would not be filled, resulting in a 10 percent overall reduction in the police force.
The administration also said four satellite branches of the Newton Free Library, in Waban, Auburndale, Nonantum, and Newton Corner, would close, and Sunday hours at the main library building in Newton Centre would be cut back.
Other service cuts would include closing the Senior Center on Saturdays and limiting subsidized transportation programs that take older residents to houses of worship and medical appointments.
Opponents of the override, however, accuse officials of exaggerating the need for the additional taxes, and say the city could take $12 million from its capital stabilization fund and still have $3 million left in the bank.
"There's ample money in the budget to avoid any cuts," said Jeff Seideman, with the Newton Taxpayers Association. "Officials need to tap into the money in the city's treasury. There's enough money in the capital stabilization fund alone to cover the budget shortfall this year."
Override proponents, however, said the city cannot use those funds to cover a budget shortfall.
"We have some reserve funds, but those are one-time savings for specific needs," said Rob Gifford, a leader of a group supporting the override, Move Newton Forward. "The capital reserve funds are for Newton North, and even without Newton North, the city has a lot of capital needs and deferred debt. It's irresponsible fiscal management for the city to use one-time funds for recurring expenses."
Rachana Rathi can be reached at rrathi@globe.com. Ralph Ranalli can be reached at rranalli@ globe.com.
