The Winthrop School Committee reviewed draft language for a proposed property‑tax override and agreed on Jan. 6 to refer the matter to the budget subcommittee for further work and legal review before the committee or town council finalizes ballot language.

A committee speaker said the administration had sought input from DLS and drafted a two‑part question (labeled 1A and 1B) so voters could approve different dollar amounts independently. The speaker read the proposed voter instruction language aloud: "Question 1A and 1B are separate questions. You may vote for or against each question independently. Each question requires a majority of those voting on the question to pass. And if more than 1 question, meaning question 1A and 1B, if both questions pass, then the question with highest dollar amount will prevail." That language, the speaker said, would appear on the ballot to help reduce voter confusion.

The committee discussed whether additional explanatory material can accompany the ballot question. The administration said it has asked the office of the secretary of state for guidance on how and where supplementary information (for example, statements saying "A yes vote would allow Winthrop Public Schools to..." or "A no vote would result in...") can be placed in relation to the ballot question; it also said Denise Quist will cross‑check the language with DLS and the secretary of state.

The committee did not vote on final language at the meeting. Instead, members agreed to defer the question to the budget subcommittee (scheduled Wednesday at 3:30) for further drafting and to return recommended language to the full committee and then to the town council for placement on the ballot.

No dollar amounts were finalized at the meeting; the speaker said the draft questions must include the fiscal year that would begin on July 1, 2025, per guidance they had received. "There's specific language about how the question has to be proposed to the voter from DLS and from the secretary of state," the speaker said, and the administration said it expects to have additional guidance before the next budget subcommittee meeting.

The discussion made clear that the committee intends to present clear instructions to voters and to follow the secretary of state's and DLS's required wording before submitting questions to the town council.