Brookline Board Approves Override Question On Town Election Ballot

BROOKLINE, MA — The Select Board voted to approve the placement of a tax override request on the ballot for residents to decide in the upcoming town election on Tuesday, May 5 during its most recent meeting.

The potential override worth $23,254,439 would be collected from residents through personal and property tax increases throughout the next three fiscal years. $17.94 million would be allocated to the public school district, with the remaining $5.31 million being used for town departments. After more than three hours of discussion, the board passed the single-tiered override almost unanimously, with the exception of member John VanScoyoc choosing to abstain.

Discussion about the topic began Tuesday night with Town Administrator Chas Carey presenting a tiered ballot question that would have also given voters the opportunity to vote in favor of a different override option worth $18.6 million. However, the way in which those funds would be collected in the early stages and periodically would reportedly result in a greater charge to taxpayers.

“Voters will be even more perturbed and confused if someone tries to tell them that by voting for the smaller number, they actually voted to take maybe more money out of their pocket as a taxpayer over three years than if they had voted for the larger number,” VanScoyoc said in advocation for a single-option ballot question. “It doesn’t feel like a choice.”

Superintendent of School Bella Wong said that if the override were to fail, the district would be forced to eliminate the middle school world language program, eliminate the majority of the music programs, let go of approximately half of first grade classroom aides, increase high school teacher responsibilities, and eventually result in overall class size reduction by the time the three year period ended.

“Since the last override, programs have been eliminated with no additions,” Wong said. “We cannot cut further without compromising educational services.”

Many community members followed Wong’s presentation to the Board with comments in support of the override and the positive impact it would have on the district.

“Excellence needs to be achieved and excellence needs to be maintained, and of the options available only the full amount has the promise for both,” Brookline Educators Union President Justin Brown said.

Board member David Pearlman expressed his desire for only a single-tiered ballot question, citing a lack of support for anything lower than the $23.25 million number. He said if the question fails, they can renegotiate with the residents at a later date.

VanScoyoc argued more in favor of giving the voters multiple choices, saying they could be inclined to vote the override down if they feel they were not given any flexibility.

“How reasonable is 85 percent versus 100 percent?” VanScoyoc said. “At the end of the day, it’s all going to come down to the mind of the voters who may think ‘they didn’t even give us a choice.’”

Without a successful override, the total property tax levy would go up by 11 percent over the next three years because of natural growth. If the approved override passes, the total tax levy would instead go up by 18 percent over the next three years.

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