Newton votes no on $12m override

Newton residents made their opinions heard on Beacon Street. In center is Carla Brigham, with her son Lucas, 7, and daughter Maisie, 5. She was voting yes. On left is Larry Young, voting no, and on far right is Maggie Blacher, voting yes. (Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff)

Newton voters, worried about the slow economy and distrustful of the city administration's ability to spend money wisely, soundly rejected a $12 million Proposition 2 1/2 override proposal yesterday.

Unofficial tallies on the city's website said voters overwhelmingly voted no on the proposed property tax increase, 55 percent to 45 percent, or 13,424 against to 11,114 in favor. Turnout appeared to be fairly high, in the neighborhood of 47 percent.

In a city known for strong schools and high property values, the rejection of the override was a stunning defeat for the coalition of liberals, well-heeled school advocates, and concerned parents that has generally been able to impose its political will. More than 51 percent of Newton voters approved the city's last property tax override, an $11.3 million measure in 2002.

Jeff Seideman, president of the Newton Taxpayers Association and co-chairman of the anti-override group Newton For Fiscal Responsibility, said that the city's voters sent a clear message to the administration of Mayor David B. Cohen.

"I think that there was a general disbelief that the city would handle more money well," Seideman said. "They didn't want to give them any more. The message to the mayor and the Board of Aldermen is: 'Clean up this fiscal mess, because we're not going to give you more money until you start paying attention to this.' "

The city's main pro-override group, Move Newton Forward, issued a statement last night calling the result a disappointment, but saying that the two sides would need to work together to solve the city's budget woes. The city has already announced the formation of a new advisory committee that will help municipal officials find ways to cut costs and raise revenues.

"There are many potential new initiatives that we can pursue as a community in order to help close the fiscal gap over the long term," the group said in the statement. "We are hopful that the extensive debate and discussion over the past few months will help set the stage for his effort."

The $12 million override proposal would have been the most expensive in the state this year, according to the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Even so, it was only half of the $24 million amount originally proposed by Cohen. Sensing voter discontent, the Board of Aldermen rejected that idea, along with a scaled-down $14.7 million proposal.

This year, though, many voters were angry at the $197.5 million price tag for the Newton North High School project and by Cohen's decision to propose a 28 percent pay raise for himself even as he was threatening cuts in teachers and police if the override didn't pass. The Newton North project is the most expensive high school project in state history, although the recently announced $159 million project to replace neighboring Wellesley High School isn't far behind.

At the urging of override opponents, Cohen recently tried to mollify voters by withdrawing his pay raise proposal and announcing he will not seek a fourth term.

Jeremy Solomon, Cohen's spokesman, said that the mayor was disappointed by the result.

"The voters have spoken, and we are facing a very difficult Fiscal Year 2009 as a result," he said.

Over the last few weeks, both Cohen and the pro-override forces tried hard to convince voters that the vote was about the city's structural operating deficit - essentially the fact that fixed costs for items such as energy, healthcare, and pensions have risen faster than city revenues - and that it was not a referendum on Cohen's management of the city and the Newton North project.

That argument appeared to fall on many deaf ears yesterday, especially among retirees and people on fixed incomes who were facing the possibility of a rising tax bill even as they are already dealing with the higher costs for energy and food.

"I guess I'm mostly angry at City Hall," said Newton Centre resident Victor Freeman, 73, explaining the no vote he cast at Newton North, which is also a polling place. "And mostly about the $200 million high school. I think that could have been handled better, starting with the mayor and working down."

If the override had passed, the property tax bill for the average Newton residence (valued at $802,000), would have risen by $433. The increase would have been split between the School Department, which would have received $8.5 million, and the city government, which would have received $3.5 million.

Before the vote, city officials said that if the override failed, the schools would be faced with eliminating 79 positions, half of them teachers. Officials had warned that the schools would cut the custodial staff by six positions and cut back on music, drama, and athletics, while cutting budgets for materials, textbooks, and technology.

Officials have warned that a no vote would mean elimination of 40 other positions, of which 14 would be current vacancies in the Police Department that would go unfilled. The Cohen administration also said that four satellite branches of the Newton Free Library in Waban, Auburndale, Nonantum, and Newton Corner would be closed and that Sunday hours at the main library in Newton Centre would be cut back.

Other cuts could include closing the Senior Center on Saturdays and limiting subsidized transportation programs that take over residents to house of worship and medical appointments.

Alderman Paul Coletti called those predictions too dire and said that even without the override funds, the city's budget for fiscal year 2009 will be $7 million higher than this year's.

"Obviously, the schools are going to be distressed about this," Coletti said. "They will have to decide whether to reduce raises in order to retain those teachers and aides. And I don't think police will be cut."

Also, Ashland voters turned down a $496,000 Proposition 2 1/2 override by a 49-vote margin, 2,171 to 2,122. The funds were intended to keep libraries open in the Mindess, Pittaway, Warren, and Middle schools; prevent dramatic school bus fee increases; and soften the blow of athletic-program fee increases. There was a 42.7 percent voter turnout, said Town Clerk Tara Ward.

Ralph Ranalli can be reached at ranalli@globe.com.