Board Sacrifices $2 million In the Interest Of Securing Yes Vote

WINCHESTER - The five members of the Winchester Select Board had different views about how much to ask voters for on March 26. But one thing they all agreed on at Thursday's meeting was the need to get an override passed. So after weeks of PowerPoint presentations that included an override figure of $12 million, the board dropped the request to $10 million and voted 5-0 in support of it.

If this were a retail store, the figure might have been $9.99, all in the interest of getting residents' support. But the $10 million ask is a balance between what the town needs, and what number the board felt voters would support. Of the total, $8 million would go to operating expenses, $2 million to capital. If approved, it would be the fifth largest operating override in state history.

"Our No. 1 goal is to have an override pass," said board member Jacqueline Welch.

Board member Mariano Goluboff summed it up for those in 01890. "Everybody wants the number to be smaller but nobody wants to cut anything."

But the reduced figure comes at a price. After waiting 10 years for an override, the $10 million will only fund the town for FY20 and FY21, meaning the town could be back asking for another override as early as 2022. And if the Massachusetts School Building Authority approves a new Lynch School, the timing could place a debt exclusion override for the school at the same time the town has to go back to voters for an operations override.

The meeting started with Town Manager Lisa Wong providing the board with a menu of override additions and subtractions. To lower the override request, options ranged from including expected tax revenue from the Winning Farms development, to adding in additional new growth projections, to decreasing the override ask from four new police officers to two. To increase the override request, the ideas included decreased fees and the hiring of an Economic Development Director for the town.

While the details were important, and debated with members of the Finance and School Committee members in attendance, nothing mattered as the much as the need for voter support March 26. If the override passes, town leaders plan to spend $5 million immediately to cover the FY20 budget deficit. The remaining $3 million would be spent the following year. The $2 million for capital would be spent immediately, a testament to the long list of projects, repairs, etc., that need to get done.

The biggest piece of the override will go to the schools and Superintendent Judy Evans was in the front row of the Town Hall meeting room.

"I appreciate the efforts of the Select Board to keep in mind everyone's needs, from senior citizens to school children," said Evans. "It was a very thoughtful discussion about the impact on the tax rate and making sure that the impact is not all felt in the first year. The $8 million operating override will certainly allow us to address some long-deferred enrollment related increases and start to address some initiatives. In the long run the resources for the schools will need to increase if we're going to continue to be one of the top-performing districts in the state."

Evans will sit down with the School Committee, look at next year's budget, and pare it back to match the new figures.

"I'm hopeful that we will get most of the things that we asked for. My greatest concern is not so much the decrease from 10 to 8. My greatest concern is that override fails to pass and then we'll have very significant staff cuts, 15 to 18 teachers right away. It's important that towns people understand that the impact on the schools of a non-override vote, is very significant."

The override vote generated quick opinions across town.

"I appreciate all of the time and effort put in by elected officials and town employees to develop the capital and operating override figures. I would have preferred a lower overall number for the operating budget, less than $8 million," said former Finance Committee chair Michelle Prior. "This figure, as voted, should allow for some additions to municipal and education staff and services and allow budget stability for the next 4 years. I hope town leadership continues to explore options to retain and grow our commercial tax base, to negotiate contractual cost of living increases that consider our 2.5 percent tax levy, to advocate for increased state Chapter 70 aid, and to find operational efficiencies wherever they exist."

For one resident, the looming issue with the Lynch and Muraco Schools still hasn't been addressed.

"I can't support this $10 million override as I see no mention of the money needed for Muraco and Lynch Schools," said Peggy Schleicher. "When will Town Manager/Select Board give residents the whole picture and not just the sliver we're seeing now?"

Between now and March 26 town officials hope to plan an information session to discuss the whole picture, etc., with residents. Officials also discussed the possibility of establishing a permanent Override Study Committee, acknowledging the obvious. Winchester's financial challenges won't be solved with one override vote.

Photo by Bob Holmes