frequently asked questions
Where can I find out exactly what the bussing and athletic fees will be for next year, with and without the override?
Click here to see an override fee "primer"
At Town Meeting, a motion was made to transfer $145,000 from the Stabilization Fund to keep the K-8 libraries open if the override fails at the ballot.
At Town Meeting, a motion was made to reconsider the FY09 Budget such that $145,000 would be transferred to the school budget from the Stabilization Fund if the override failed to keep the K-8 libraries open. The move to reconsider failed and the motion was not discussed or voted on.
While on the surface it seemed like a good idea to help the libraries, it was not a viable solution. Here are the facts:
1) Such a motion to contingently appropriate funds is not allowable under Massachusetts General Law. The only exception to this is for a contingency budget related to the PASSAGE of an override. Town Meeting is simply not allowed to vote on a motion such as the one that was suggested. If the Moderator allowed the vote and it had passed the action would have been disallowed by the Attorney General.
2) Town Meeting does not have the authority to direct the School Committee as to how to spend funds that have been appropriated for local education. Any extra funds transferred to the School Committee would be spent however the School Committee deemed appropriate. The only exception to this is the first year of funding through an override. There was no way to ensure that the $145K would go to fund the school libraries.
3) After Town Meeting the balance in the Stabilization Fund is $288K - well short of the $1 million plus where the Finance Committee said it should be. The FY09 Budget that was approved at Town Meeting already included $300K from the Stabilization Fund. Town leaders have indicated that it would have been fiscally irresponsible to take additional funds from the Stabilization fund for ANY reason. Had the discussion continued, Town Meeting would have heard that message.
What is an operational override and does it last for more than one year?
Under state law, a town may not raise taxes more than 2.5% per year unless an OVERRIDE is approved by the town. An operation override is a permanent override to Proposition 2½. A specified sum of money is proposed to supplement municipal and/or school budgets to meet recurring expenses. The property tax levy is permanently increased by the override amount. The following year the tax levy is again limited to a 2½ percent increase plus new growth unless there is another override passed. The first year the override is passed money may be earmarked for one or more specific purposes. In following years, the money can be used for any/all departments the town decides.
The Committee to Keep Ashland Strong supports an operational override because day to day expenses (operational expenses) are outstripping recurring revenue. Ashland has been experiencing a growing structural deficit for several years resulting in years of service cuts and financial decline. Ashland has NEVER passed an override.
What will the sports fees at the High School and Middle School be next year?
The amount you pay for your child to play a sport will depend on whether the override passes or not. To see a chart showing exactly what fees will be charged for each particular sport, please click here.
Is there such a thing as a graduated property tax? Can you tax more expensive homes at a higher rate? No. Taxes are governed by State law and we cannot deviate from the current system. A graduated system is not allowed. (Answer supplied by John Petrin, Town Manager.)
Is it true that the schools recieved money from the town's general reserve fund earlier this year? If so, why do we still need an override? Yes, the schools did receive funds from the town reserve fund (for the first time under Dr. Hoffman's tenure) to cover unforeseen expenses due to special education.
How much will an override cost me?
For a $496,000 override, you would be taxed at $.2075 per $1,000 assessed value of your home. Click here for a link to town assessor records (listed alphabetically by street name) . For the average homeowner in Ashland ($413,000 home), the override would cost $86 per year, or $7.16 per month.
What exactly will the override fund?