The conflict between the town’s higher-than-expected free cash amount of $557,244 and the principle of seeking voter approval of an override to obtain a recurring funding source for ongoing personnel expenses could have been resolved by a two-step process. Voters could have been asked to approve an override ballot question and town meeting warrant articles to expand the permanent property tax levy base to meet the recurring costs for the labor contracts. Another article could have been placed on the Town Meeting Warrant to appropriate a portion of the higher-than-expected free cash to reduce this year’s tax rate.
Paul Cohen
Candleberry Lane
