As long-time residents of Belmont we are writing to urge voters to support the operating budget override on April 2.
We are retired empty-nesters who love Belmont and the life we’ve built here. Our children have long since graduated from Belmont High School and have families of their own. We will always value the high-quality education they received, an education that propelled them, we firmly believe, to their future successes.
The override is not just about ensuring that the next generation of Belmont public school students receive the same quality education as our children. While we can’t know in advance what the cuts in town services will be, it is certain that Town Department budgets will have to be significantly reduced over the next several years, in addition to the school budget, if the override does not pass.
Will our new library and skating rink have the funds to operate as voters anticipated when they approved these capital projects? Will public safety officers be impacted?
While we would very much like to avoid increasing our property tax bill, we recognize that a 2 1/2% cap on property tax increases is not sufficient to cover the costs of town services we all expect, no matter how carefully we manage our budget.
Our Select Board is keenly aware of taxpayers’ concerns and the importance of sound fiscal management. The operating override is necessary to ensure that Belmont can continue to offer the quality of life we all value while living in a town with excellent schools, community services, and a AAA bond rating. Please
vote Yes on April 2.
Steve Klionsky and Gail Mann, Payson Road