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Why an Override?

What is Proposition 2 ½

Grafton is dependent on property tax.

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The only way to significantly impact revenue is to increase property tax.

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Proposition 2½ is a Massachusetts law designed to keep taxes predictable, while giving the voters the power to approve local tax increases to fund the services they believe are necessary and valuable.

 

Proposition 2½ was passed in 1980 and limits the amount of property taxes a city or town can collect, called the total tax levy.  But over time, it’s made it difficult for cities and towns to keep up with inflation and rising costs for schools, public safety, and services.

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Lawmakers anticipated 2.5% increases would not always be sufficient to maintain city services. Prop 2½ gives voters the power to override the cap as needed. 

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More than 20 communities are pursuing overrides this year, and since 1990, more than 300 Massachusetts municipalities have passed more than 1900 override measures to maintain adequate funding.

Grafton Runs a Lean Budget

We already do more with less than nearly every community in Massachusetts. Our school district is in the bottom four percent of all districts in the Commonwealth for per-pupil spending, but we routinely exceed state averages in all student success metrics.

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And on the municipal side, 62 percent of all towns and cities in Massachusetts spend more per resident than we do.

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Last year, we cut positions and spent down all of our reserve funds. We have made both past overrides last beyond their intended lifespan. Our schools and municipal teams are excellent stewards of taxpayer money. 

What Will Cuts Look Like?

Cuts will get progressively more painful over time. But in the first year, we can expect:

  • Municipal Center - Reduction of 2.5 FTE Employees

    • 1 - Assistant Engineer

    • 1 - Planning/Conservation Administrative Assistant

    • 1 - Part-Time Building Department Employee

  • Grafton School Department - Reductions of 14 FTE Employees in year one, resulting in larger class sizes and the elimination of programs; by the end of year five, reductions would be more than 60 FTEs

  • Recreation - Reduced services at Silver Lake Beach for FY27. The beach would close at the end of June, and is projected to be fully closed for FY28 and beyond.

  • Library - Reductions in Staff/Programing

  • Removal of certain stipends for the Select Board and Town Moderator

  • Moving the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program funds to the Capital Plan, limiting what can be done with those funds. 

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