|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
SPENCER – At its April 7 meeting, Selectmen decided to frame its Proposition 2 ½ override request into two Town Meeting warrant articles, streamlining the original intentions to focus on a few areas.
One question will ask voters to assess an additional $1,348,390 in real estate and personal property taxes for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. Of that amount, $830,000 would be to fund the required local contribution for the regional school district; $150,000 would be for the Spencer Rescue Squad contract; and $368,390 would pay for four firefighters, whose current grant funding will end mid-year in fiscal 2027.
The second question seeks an override of $211,500 to add one highway department employee at $88,500 and $123,000 for one additional police detective.
Selectmen came to the decision following a discussion with some members feeling uneasy about the changes or the best way to present the questions.
Selectman Ralph Hicks said they cannot “keep kicking the can down the road,” when it comes to town services. He added that the more complicated the request is, the less likely an override would pass.
Chair John Howard said the funding for items like the Spencer Rescue Squad and four firefighters to continue are important to seniors in town because “as we get older, things happen.”
Vice chair Jared Grigg said the board is “at the end of the line,” has done its due diligence and cut back as much as possible with the requests. He noted it is up to Town Meeting and ballot voters to decide whether they agree or not.
Member Gary Woodbury pointed out that the board had returned to its original idea to focus on public safety and fund the “elephant in the room,” which is required school spending as determined by a state formula.
Town Administrator Jeff Bridges said at its “heart and soul,” the town is a community service organization.
“This is really about what is the expectation of the Spencer taxpayer and what they are willing to pay for,” Bridges said. “If they say no, (this) board will have to make decisions on the level of service that is provided.”
He added, “If yes, that’s terrific. We get the opportunity to enhance what we provide.”
During an April 8 meeting with the Finance Committee, Bridges noted that if both questions pass, it would mean authorization above Proposition 2 ½ of $536,500, $510,000 in the following year and then $512,000.
“It would be broken up roughly in thirds,” he said, adding that the firefighters’ grant funding does not end until halfway through fiscal 2027 so the shift to the operating budget will not be needed until that time.
Similarly, the amount to pay for the school contribution would be staggered over three years as would the contract for the Spencer Rescue Squad.
He said, overall, it means 88 cents added to the tax rate.
For an average home valued at $393,739, taxes would increase by $193.50 in FY26, $581.31 in FY27 and $214.72 in FY28.
The figures include the impact of the override, the debt on the high school project and the annual 2 ½ incremental increase, he said.
Bridges said 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.
The original proposal for the Proposition 2 ½ override, discussed at four public hearings, sought $2.4 million and included funds for post-employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities, unfunded pension liabilities to the Worcester Regional Retirement System, public infrastructure improvements, a second highway employee and a second police officer request.
After hearing input from residents, Selectmen decided to trim the requests with a focus on public safety, meeting its school funding obligations and adding a highway department worker to take care of parks and town properties.