One year I’d like to go to Town Meeting and rejoice that we are in fine financial position and can save for a rainy day. Regrettably, it won’t happen this year.
Regrettably, the town contracts are not resolved. The teachers, police, firemen, DPW, and town administration are valuable contributors to our community. Like many of us, they have been asked to take cuts in their benefits, and like many of us, they do not feel that they should be valued less for what they do. Our elected and appointed volunteers also give great service to our town. I value and appreciate all of them and regret the impact that negotiations are having on our children, who are caught in the middle and feel the impact every day, but I understand the financial dilemma.
Regrettably, our seniors and farmers and others with limited resources cannot always afford the growing property taxes to cover the cost of our valued services. Many of us say we moved to Harvard for the schools, but it’s more than that. It’s the beauty of the farms, the forests, the pond, and the historical buildings that brought us here, too. If it weren’t for the farmers and seniors, who long supported this town, this beauty wouldn’t exist. We can’t continue to tax them to the point they leave the place where they’ve been so invested. I’m sure none of us would want the changes that would ensue with their leaving.
Regrettably, the town’s financial position comes with how we pay for services—through property taxes. The desire for commercial business is nice, but surely won’t ever make a big enough difference to save us from repeated overrides. Other towns with bigger commercial bases show the same financial patterns.
For the past two years, we’ve been asking town officials and fellow residents to work with our legislators to address the shortfall in state funds, particularly associated with education. Last year, with leadership by their selectman and superintendent, Acton was able to create a multitown coalition and push for a change in Chapter 70. They were successful and will not need an override, unlike in many past years. Harvard benefited, too, but less. We encourage town officials and residents to become more active in letting our legislators know how we feel. We need: (1) a minimum level of funding per student. Currently we get $971 per student when the state average is $3,441 (Acton-Boxborough now receives $2,000); (2) a better circuit breaker for special education, which is over 30 percent of our school budget; and (3) the ability to better protect our seniors and farmers from increasing property taxes, exempting them from overrides based on their incomes, not property.
Regrettably, approaching our legislators takes time and effort and results may take more than a year. But our efforts can produce change. We urge everyone to take action. Go to www.sosharvard.org for a sample letter or write your own to Rep.JamesEldridge@hou.state.ma.us andPResor@senate.state.ma.us. Let’s not wait another year and regret not taking this action.
Ellen Sachs Leicher
Warren Avenue
