Plympton Considers Proposition 2 1/2 Override to Address Budget Shortfall
Officials Weigh Options as Silver Lake School District Faces Potential Cuts
PLYMPTON - February 10 - Local officials are discussing the possibility of a Proposition 2 1/2 override to address a looming budget deficit. The override would permanently increase the town's levy limit, allowing for additional tax revenue to fund municipal services and education.
During a recent Finance Committee meeting, Town Counsel Gregg Corbo provided an overview of the override process and its implications. "An override is something where you raise your levy limit permanently for either a particular purpose or for general municipal purposes," Corbo explained.
The town is facing a tight budget situation, with initial requests and utilizing multiple funding sources Town Administrator Liz Dennehy projects only $7,343 available. This leaves little room for unexpected expenses or increased costs, and only $450,000 for Town Meeting articles.
One of the main drivers of the potential budget shortfall is the Silver Lake School District assessment. Initial projections suggested a $783,000 increase, but recent adjustments and potential funding sources may reduce that figure.
School Committee chair Jason Fraser reported that the district is exploring various options to minimize the impact on town assessments. "We have a meeting at the end of February where they're supposed to come back with some additional numbers," Fraser said.
He outlined several potential funding sources that could help offset the increase, including excess and deficiency funds, increased circuit breaker reimbursements, and federal grants. "There is a chance we could potentially get the assessment for Silver Lake to a net zero increase over last year," Fraser stated.
However, Fraser cautioned that using one-time funding sources could create challenges for future budgets. "If we did have a big number, how is that possible? Is it something that we could replicate year after year?" he asked.
The school district has also prepared potential budget cut scenarios. Tier 1 cuts would reduce supplies by $250,000, while Tier 2 cuts of $650,000 would eliminate all high school athletics and extracurricular activities. Tier 3 cuts, totaling $1.5 million, would result in staff reductions, including teachers and administrators.
Town officials are weighing these options against the possibility of an override. Corbo explained that an override requires both town meeting approval and a ballot vote. "The difference is that when you do an override at the election, now the voters are voting to raise a specific amount of money in addition to your levy limit for whatever purpose you specify," he said.
The Finance Committee discussed the need for public outreach and education if an override is pursued. Corbo cautioned that there are strict rules about how town officials can communicate about override proposals. "You can't mail flyers out to people saying, you know, why they should vote in favor of the override," he warned.
Committee members agreed to reconvene after receiving updated budget numbers from the school district. They also plan to review warrant articles for the upcoming town meeting and explore other potential cost-saving measures.
Other items discussed at the meeting included:
- An update on the fire station project, with bids expected by mid-April
- Progress on well testing for the subject field design, including a successful mega well producing 109 gallons per minute
- Concerns about potential steel tariffs affecting construction costs
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether an override proposal moves forward and what form it might take.