Both Sides Of The Override Debate

In the final days leading up to Monday's residents are still mulling over how they will vote.

School Committee Chairman Ann Rittenburg said she's talked to numerous people since the Board of Selectmen agreed to have this special election that seeks $2 million in additional revenue for Belmont's fiscal year 2011. Clearly, she said, there are residents who are opposed to passing the override and others who firmly support the tax increase to cover gaps in next year's budget.

Yet there are definitely people who are "caught in the middle" and are finding this a difficult choice, Rittenburg said.

"They're trying to balance the issues, asking what structural changes have already been made {on the part of the town and schools} and exactly what's at stake."

While answering those questions, Rittenburg said she also explains how the school department has been in transition for a few years: saying goodbye to former Superintendent Dr. Peter Holland, welcoming current Superintendent Dr. George Entwistle and undergoing a change with new people serving on the School Committee

"We are now coming to the beginning of a new era, as is the town, with Dr. Entwistle completing a year and new members on the Warrant Committee and Board of Selectmen," she said.

I'm getting a sense from people who were undecided that they have a better understanding of how we got to where we are and want to support the new era rather than punishing these people for mistakes that may have been made in the past.

Many more of those who felt caught in the middle are saying they are leaning toward voting for the override because they feel it's too harsh to reduce the budget that much and there's room to restructure and get additional revenue so we don't have to undercut services so much."

There is definitely a range of opinions on the merits of the upcoming override vote, said P.J. Looney. He has been vocal in his opposition to it – appearing on community television to debate the override with Board of Selectmen Vice Chairman Mark Paolillo and referencing Belmont Patch – so people come up to speak with him a lot when they see him about town, Looney said.

"I've had people come and say 'Good job' and 'Thank you' to me for explaining why I'm against this," Looney said. "For the most part, it's seniors who say that to me."

He said exactly what he feared has happened: that this upcoming override vote has pitted the seniors and the rest of the town against the schools. "I hate the contention that has occurred," Looney said.

State Rep. William Brownsberger disagrees that the override vote pits one group of residents, or town departments, against another. People talk to him more about state finances than those of Belmont, Brownsberger said, but he has had conversations with residents about the override and said there is a range of opinion out there.

"There are a lot of people who are invested in the town and want to preserve services and that includes seniors," he said. "There are also people who feel taxes are too high and are not happy about that which includes parents of children who attend Belmont schools."

Looney maintains that this override has garnered the most opposition; something he said is unusual in Belmont. He said he has no idea how the town will vote but the biggest reaction he's heard from people is that they question how the budgets for the schools and town were prioritized.

"They don't like where the cuts are being made – people rather than programs," Looney said. "People have told me they agree with me that the town has to change how it comes up with the budget and that it's better to cut new materials at the library than teachers."

Just by looking at the signs that support the override, it sometimes seems to him that it will pass, Looney said. But he feels there are people out there who will vote "No" to any override, even if it's just a small amount of money.

"I just hope we get a good voter turnout," Looney said.