Pro and anti-override arguments released
By Melissa Muntz Community Reporter
Shrewsbury - The Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen has released supporting and dissenting opinions that will be mailed to voters concerning the Proposition 2-1/2 override ballot question. By law, the arguments, in addition to the exact wording of the question, must be sent to voters prior to the election.

Offering the dissenting opinion, on behalf of the Committee Against Proposition 2-1/2 Overrides, was Chair Chris Kirk.

"Last year, the School Administration claimed disaster would result if the $5 million override were defeated. Instead: the school budget ended the year with a $350,000 surplus, 70 new personnel were hired, and students' standardized test (MCAS) scores reached their highest levels," according to the statement against the override.

"School officials have stated that passing this override will not solve the schools' problems, and that they don't know how to restrain the schools' rising expenses. Even though enrollment is projected to continue declining for the next 8 years, the School Department will seek budget increases requiring an override every year," the statement continues.

"The school budget now exceeds all property taxes collected in town. Total spending on the schools - which has been growing at 6-8% per year - now consumes 70% of all town revenues. Rather than devise solutions to the schools' budget problems, they just want you to pay more.

"Town officials have stated that increasing fees, taxes or commercial growth simply cannot sustain such increases in the school budget, and that it's unrealistic to expect annual approval of overrides. The town has already raised electric rates, plans to raise water and sewer rates, and expects to impose a trash collection fee this July.

"Tax hikes for additions to the library and police headquarters, and for replacement of the Sherwood Middle School loom in the near future. This override would be a bad idea even in a growing economy. Vote 'No' on May 6th."

Because no one from the Board of Selectmen came forward to prepare the supporting argument, the responsibility fell to Town Manager Daniel Morgado.

"The Board of Selectmen seeks your support for this override question that would make available to the Town Meeting $1.5 million in additional tax levy capacity. Of the $1.5 million, $1.0 million will be used to fund the operation of municipal government and the public schools and $500,000 will be used to eliminate and/or reduce several of the student fees that the School Department currently charges," according to the statement in support of the override.

"The board does not make this request frivolously. It is made after years of carefully maintaining a balance between legitimate and necessary needs for this entire community and the fiscal concerns and uncertainties expressed to the board by so many of our residents," the statement continues.

"This careful balance has re- sulted in excellent public services while maintaining tax and fee structures that are the envy of so many communities. Unfortunately, the fiscal pressures being faced by so many municipalities now exist here in Shrewsbury and without your assistance structural damage will occur among the various municipal and school departments.

"Failure of this override question will result in service reductions across the board and will affect every Shrewsbury resident.

"Rather than looking at an override question as some sort of failure or aberration, the board suggests that residents view this question as necessary to maintain this community's excellent quality of life and to meet our collective obligation to past, current and future generations of Shrewsbury residents.

"We have something special here. Please help us maintain our standing. The board and I respectfully seek your assistance and support."

Residents will vote on the proposed $1.5 million override Tuesday May 6.