Mary ByrneOpponents of the $8.4 million override argue plenty of money is flowing into Belmont’s coffers, and with careful financial management, an override is unnecessary.
“It’s a huge tax burden on people, and it’s just unsustainable to keep asking seniors to keep paying more and more,” said Tim Duncan, a spokesperson for the No Override Belmont campaign, encouraging residents to vote against the override on April 2.
The campaign has already participated in interviews on Belmont Media Center television and plans to distribute mailings and lawn signs before the election. Other residents involved in the campaign include Wayne Wild and Sunyoung Hong.
Duncan, a 14-year resident of Belmont, argues that tax revenue is already increasing every year, even without an override.
He also points to the already approved debt exclusions for the Belmont Middle and High school, the new library — both of which Duncan voted for — and the skating rink, which he said he had “mixed feelings on.” He emphasized a debt exclusion lasts for the length of a project’s loan, but an override is permanent.
“Spending just needs to match those increases in revenues and property taxes,” said Duncan.
According to town officials, Belmont faces a $6.5 million budget gap in the next fiscal year, which will continue to grow over the following two fiscal years as anticipated expenses outpace expected revenue.
According to budget documents, a “No” vote would mean widespread cuts and layoffs over the next two years, with many teachers and firefighters expected to lose their jobs. Reductions totaling $800,000 are part of the fiscal year 2025 budget, including $300,000 in personnel cuts and $500,000 in service cuts. Town Administrator Patrice Garvin said staff who may be laid off have already been told.
In fiscal year 2026, Garvin said she identified areas for reductions. Some include staffing cuts in the fire and finance departments and implementing a pay-as-you-throw program to cut trash costs.
Garvin said with no override, approximately $1.3 million in cuts would be needed in fiscal year 2026. She noted that the areas outlined for reduction total more than that, but everything is on the table for consideration.
The schools have also outlined potential cuts over the next two fiscal years, such as eliminating the high school theater and athletic programs and possibly closing Burbank Elementary School.
“They’re fake threats,” said Duncan. “They say this every time there’s a Belmont override proposed. ‘The sky is falling.’”
He referenced the failed 2021 override, where cuts were expected if the override didn’t pass.
“It’s just what government officials say when they want to increase taxes,” he said. “[They say] the world is going to end if they don’t get their tax increases.”
Town officials have said Belmont got through the failed 2021 override by using one-time, COVID-related pandemic funds, such as American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants. Duncan, however, argued ARPA funds should have been a gift to cover remote learning expenses and make capital expenditures outside of the ordinary budget, “which was still being adequately covered by ordinary revenues during COVID.”
Asked where he would make cuts to curb overspending, Duncan acknowledged that someone can argue for every line item in a budget. It is the role of the government — appointed and elected officials — to manage the budget.
According to Duncan, passing the override would perpetuate the “unfair, inequitable, and unjust” way property taxes fall on seniors and lower-income or less wealthy residents. He cited a report by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, a Boston-based nonprofit that researches and advocates for inclusive budget policies.
According to the report, households with the highest 1% of income pay, on average, less than 3% of their income in residential and commercial property taxes; those with the lowest income, meanwhile, tend to pay over 5% of their income in property taxes.
Duncan advocated for Belmont seniors, who he said would be forced out of Belmont in the event of an override.
“[Town officials] need to figure out where spending needs to be,” he said. “It’s easy to spend money; it’s hard to manage a budget.”
More information on No Override Belmont can be found online at 2much2ask.org.
