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SPENCER – Voters will consider two Proposition 2 ½ override questions on the May 12 ballot.
The first, to pay for four career firefighters totals $368,390 and would go into effect beginning on July 1, 2026.
The firefighters were previously grant-funded and this request would be to have those positions continue.
The second, amounting to $264,445 would go towards the Spencer East Brookfield school district’s operating budget.
The Board of Selectmen on March 30 discussed the importance of specificity with ballot questions. Member Ralph Hicks, who attends School Committee meetings, said the money is intended for two additional custodians and electricity costs at David Prouty High School.
It is also to pay for grounds maintenance contractors to handle the district’s athletic fields and lawns, he said.
Hicks said the benefits of contracting services is that the district would not have to pay health insurance or retirement costs and the company sends a replacement when someone is out sick.
As for additional electrical expenses, Hicks noted everyone is feeling the pinch in their bills.
“With a 40% bigger building (David Prouty High), it makes sense,” electric will cost more, he added.
“It’s for things people complain about all the time,” Hicks said, referring to maintenance or the lack thereof at schools and other town buildings.
At first, Hicks wanted to amend the article to spell out exactly what the money is going to be used for so that voters would have clarity.
Hicks noted that the school department cut $1 million from its budget, which included staff members losing their jobs.
But Town Administrator Jeff Bridges noted when school officials appeared before them earlier this month, they asked for an override question on the ballot, but did not provide specificity.
Whether Hicks was privy to the intent or not, Bridges said town counsel used Department of Revenue guidance when formulating the wording.
If the question says the money would be used for the operating budget, “You are dooming it to failure is my fear,” Hicks added.
Selectmen chair Jared Grigg said when school officials made their presentation, “I didn’t see them focusing on specific things…” They did however discuss $1 million being “cut off a bunch of things.”
Selectman Jonathan Viner said he was 100% in favor of the ballot question having details about where the money would go.
He noted the town’s question about the firefighters spells that out even though they would fall under an operating budget as well.
Selectman John Howard suggested they leave the wording of “operating budget,” intact because an explanation could be written just below it.
Ultimately, the questions were both approved for the ballot. The Finance Committee was scheduled to address the override questions at a meeting on March 31.
During a previous meeting, selectmen talked about the dangers of increased response time by firefighters if the department relies only on call personnel.
“At the bare minimum, it’s a 15-minute increase in response time,” Grigg said. “I live this life. You want those guys there. It is important.”
Longer response times also result in a rise in homeowners’ insurance rates, Hicks noted.
