Uxbridge voters approve tax hike

UXBRIDGE – Spring annual town meeting voters Tuesday approved the School Committee’s request for a $1.32 million Proposition 2 ½ tax override to defray school salary and operational costs for fiscal year 2018.

Article 5 of the 19-article town meet- ing warrant, which asked voters to consider a $1,320,000 override to be split between the next two fiscal years, was approved by a vote of 369 to 242. The override had been recommended by both the selectmen and the Finance Committee.

The $1,320,000 includes $730,000 to be appropriated by the School Department next year, and the remain- ing $590,000 to be retained as excess levy capacity for next year and then appropriated by the School Department in fiscal year 2019.

With town meeting approval now in hand, the override must now be approve a ballot question on the override at the annual town election May 23.

The start of the town meeting was delayed by an hour to allow time to sign in the more than 700 voters who showed up for the meeting in the Uxbridge High School auditorium. Because of the delay and the lengthy debate on the override article, the town meeting was recessed until May 16. At that time, voters will take up the town’s proposed $43.2 million budget for fiscal 2018.

The School Committee is proposing a $22.3 million fiscal 2018 budget, which leaves a $720,000 gap between expected appropriations and other revenue, and that is the reason the override was requested.

Proposition 2 ½ is the title given to an initiative petition adopted by Massachusetts voters in 1980. The main features of Proposition 2 ½ are related to the total amount of property taxes that a city or town can raise each year.

The override proposed in Uxbridge would add 46 cents per $1,000 valuation to property taxes in fiscal 2018 and an additional 38 cents per $1,000 in fiscal 2019.

So, based on a home valued at $290,000, the annual tax bill would increase by $134 in 2018 and then increase by another $244 in 2019.

According to school officials, the override, which is a monthly increase of $10.18 to the average household over the next two years, will maintain interscholastic athletics and student activities as well as prevent class sizes from reaching 25-28 students at the elementary levels.

The tax override will also provide each student in Grades 4-8 with individual access to computer laptop devices. In addition, the Taft Early Learning Center will gain wireless computer access throughout the building and all teachers at the Whitin Elementary School and McCloskey Middle School will be provided with computer laptops to enhance classroom instruction.

According Residents for Uxbridge Schools, a citizens group advocating for the tax increase, approval of the measure will maintain class size and instructional support; implement technology into elementary classrooms; and raise property values.

If the ballot question on the override fails at the town election on May 23, the group says elementary classrooms will exceed 28 students; raise high school athletic fees to $275 per athlete; reduce some junior varsity sports that do not run without middle school participation; and add bus fees for those riders who currently meet the School Committee’s policy for transportation, but do not qualify for state-mandated transportation at $180 per rider with a $360 family cap.

It would also eliminate the athletic trainer position; restrict technology usage; cut funds for professional development by $40,000; and cut two parttime secretary positions.