May 1 Town Meeting to vote on appropriations for override, capital items

SPENCER – Most of the attention at the May 1 Town Meeting will likely fall on the appropriation questions related to the Proposition 2 ½ override ballot questions on May 13.

The townspeople are being asked to assess an additional $1,348,390 in real estate and personal property taxes to fund the following: $830,000 to pay the regional school district’s required local contribution; $150,000 for the Spencer Rescue Squad contract; and $368,390 to fund four firefighters currently paid for by a grant.

The second ballot question seeks $211,500 to fund a highway department employee ($88,500) and a police officer ($123,000).

The intent is to spread the funding over three years. For example, the firefighters’ grant funding runs out halfway through 2027 so money for that purpose will not be needed until then.

Town administrator Jeff Bridges has noted overall, it means 88 cents added to the tax rate, which is currently $11.64.

For an average home valued at $393,739, taxes would increase by $347.31 in 2025, followed by $193.50 in FY26, $581.31 in FY27 and $214.72 in FY28.

The FY27 figures include the impact of the override, the debt on the high school project and the annual 2 ½ incremental increase, Bridges said.

He told the FinCom earlier this month the authorization would not be appropriated in the first year and would require “discipline,” by the town to ensure that the money is only spent on the items included in the question(s) in the years that follow.

It was always intended that the funds would be parceled out in a three-year time frame, he said.

A detailed property tax calculator is available on the town’s website: SpencerMA.gov/override-information.

The override questions must pass by Town Meeting vote and get approved via the election ballot to succeed.

But voters are also facing a warrant with more than 30 additional articles, many that have financial implications.

Other highlights of warrant

For snow and ice expenses, voters will be asked to allocate $134,000.

The so-called “Schedule A” for salaries increased by 2.15% in FY26, setting hourly rates for employees from a low of $16.14 for library page and election inspector positions to a high of clerk of the works V at $35.02.

The article establishes an employee classification and wage scale system for non-union employees.

Other articles seek:

• $50,000 for the Other Post Employment Benefit Trust Fund (OPEB);
• $174,026 as a grant to the Spencer Cable Access and Public Education Governmental (PEG) channel. The town’s agreement with Charter (Spectrum) provides for funding of the PEG on the cable TV system. The funds are transferred to SCA under agreement with the town to provide programming.
• $12,487,128 for the Spencer-East Brookfield school district; $1,389,883 for Bay Path Vocational Technical High School; $80,050 for Smith Vocational High School (non- resident tuition and transportation); and $73,864 for Pathfinder Regional High School (non-resident tuition and transportation);
• $29,610 from the recycling trailer account to purchase and equip a spare solid waste hauling trailer for the Spencer Transfer Station;
• $14,006,036 for operation of the general government expenses; and
• $500,000 to make improvements to the sewer department’s collection system (from sewer enterprise fund); and
• $300,000 for the design, bid and construction of a storage building including site clearing and all other incidental and related expenses (from a transfer of retained earnings from the sewer enterprise fund).

Article 28 asks for $1.045,56 for a capital program of equipment purchases. Among the list of items is a fire engine replacement and roadside mower, each at $100,000; $81,856 for a police cruiser; $150,000 for library renovations, and $50,000 for the Lake Street School demolition, to name a few.

Other articles look for acceptance of H.J. Perron Road and Taylor Drive as town roads. Both were originally accepted by November 2006 Special Town Meeting but the necessary filings were not completed. A 2/3 vote is needed to incorporate them into town-owned roads.

Town Meeting starts at 7 p.m. on May 1 and is held in the Great Hall at the Spencer Town Hall, 157 Main Street.