On April 30, Acton voters will go to the polls to decide if the town will move forward with a $6.6M permanent increase in taxation over and above the 2 ½ percent plus new growth of about ½%, currently permitted under state law. The last time Acton voters approved a tax override was in 2005.
If approved, $5.4M of the $6.6M requested override amount would be utilized in 2024-25. The remaining $1.2M would be held as untaxed, excess levy capacity to be used in following years. As this is an “operational” override, if approved, this increase becomes a new base for future taxes.
The amount of the tax increase for individual homeowners depends on your current property value, which you can find by looking at your tax bill. Without an override, an Acton homeowner with an average home value of $850K can expect a tax increase in 2024-25 of $497.00, the allowed 2 ½ -3%. An override would add about $723.00 to that amount. These calculations are found on the Town website. Seventy percent of Acton’s homes are valued below the average of $840K. A condominium owner with an average home value of $462K can expect a tax increase in 2024-25 of $270.00 without an override. An override would add about $393.00 to that amount.
The Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee, Acton Select Board and Acton Finance Committee have endorsed the override in conjunction with other cost saving measures that will keep budgets low while still funding town and school services.
Pro- and anti-override coalitions of Acton parents, educators, elected officials, community activists and taxpayers have formed active campaigns.
The Together for Acton campaign views a YES vote as critical to the town and schools’ ability to continue to meet the needs of citizens. On their website, they say, “While Acton has managed to avoid an override for almost 20 years, unexpected costs and high inflation have led to a budget deficit,” and that without the override, Acton will “lose important town services and do irreparable harm to our school district.”
The Keep Acton Affordable campaign views a NO vote as a check against rising taxes and a method to further reduce spending. On their website, they say a no vote “will force all of our boards to adopt sound financial practices, such as maintaining healthy levels of reserve funds and using them only for truly extraordinary expenses.”
At “Java for John” sessions at the Senior Center — monthly conversations with Town Manager John Mangiaratti — Acton seniors on fixed incomes, though supportive of the schools, have said they are anxious about their ability to pay the override tax increase.
The deadline to apply for a vote by mail ballot is April 23, according to the Acton Town Clerk. The election is on April 30 at the RJ Grey Junior High School. The override question is the last on the ballot.
Diane Baum has been an Acton resident since 1999. She served on the Acton-Boxborough School Committee from 2015 to 2021.
Marion Maxwell is a long-time Acton resident, active in Town affairs. She currently publishes the nonpartisan ACTON SENIOR CITIZENS Newsletter which is emailed weekly to 735 seniors. She is on the Board of the Acton Exchange.