Marshfield residents on Tuesday, Sept. 1 voted down a proposed $7 million property tax override.
Passing an override is a two-part process. The override budget must be approved at town meeting, and the funding mechanism for that budget must be approved at the ballot box.
Residents at a June 15 town meeting voted in support of a tax override, so the Tuesday vote was the final step in the process. The measure failed 4,801 to 4,059.
"The outcome of the override election today was a clear message that while the incredible nationwide challenges of affordability and inflation were not created here in Marshfield, it is our challenge to face locally and to tackle head on," Rick Smith, chair of the select board, posted on Facebook. "We can and we will do this in the only way we have the power to – through incredible fiscal restraint and discipline at the town level. While we do this, it is also vitally important that we remain compassionate and supportive to the dedicated public servants who have been impacted."
Without the override, the town faces a $7 million budget deficit. In May, about 70 educators were told their positions will be eliminated due to the schools' $4.5 million share of the deficit, said Benjamin Raymond, president of the Marshfield Education Association.
The select board voted 2-1 in support of allowing residents to decide on an override in an election. Member Eric Kelley said he was opposed to the override because the schools continue to add positions despite declining enrollment. He said a review of the school budget should happen before taxpayers are asked to increase taxes.
Town and school officials recently signed a memorandum of understanding that creates a school funding formula and financial reporting deadlines. The formula establishes a more predictable revenue-sharing framework for MarshfieldPublic Schools, allocating 68.5% of available revenue after shared costs are accounted for.
Officials also committed to not seeking any additional operational override for at least five years except in casesof extreme inflation or a significant reduction in state or federal aid if residents approved the override Tuesday.
The select board approved the agreement on Aug.17 in a 2-1 vote and the school committee approved it unanimously on Aug. 18.
"This agreement is intended to change the way we approach municipal finances," Smith said in a press release. "Fiscal discipline requires more than balancing a budget each year. It means planning further ahead, identifying financial pressures earlier, formalizing a plan to find operational efficiencies and cost savings, and improving the result through collaboration and partnership. This agreement represents the best of our town working together for a sustainable financial future which is what our residents expect and deserve."
Patriot Ledger reporter Jessica Trufant can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Cuts loom as Marshfield voters reject $7 million property tax override