Resident urges Town Meeting discussion of a nonbinding 2.5% tax-increase petition

Wilfrid Savoy, a Westborough resident, presented a nonbinding petition (Article 28) to the Advisory Finance Committee on Feb. 24 asking the town to consider limiting annual property-tax increases to 2.5% plus new growth.

Savoy said he provided charts showing Westborough—s sizable new-growth levy capacity and argued the petition would prompt Town Meeting members to discuss whether they prefer that limit. He asked the committee to support placement of the nonbinding question on the warrant to generate community discussion about tax limits and alternative revenue and savings options.

Committee members and Savoy discussed legal constraints. Savoy acknowledged the petition as presented would be nonbinding and that making a binding limit would likely require a ballot question placed by the Select Board or a voter petition; he noted Westborough—s charter currently restricts the ability of residents to place certain questions on the ballot without Select Board action. Members also raised the practical tradeoffs: a 2.5% cap on tax increases would, depending on revenue and growth, likely require budget reductions or new revenue sources and would change the services the town could provide.

The committee did not take a formal vote on Article 28 that night. Members asked for more information and said they would consider the petition before the warrant is finalized so a recommendation, if any, could be made prior to the printing deadline.

"This would provide at least the beginning of community response," Savoy said, urging a Town Meeting discussion. He also recommended exploring more accurate local revenue estimates and other revenue sources if the town wants to pursue sustained constraints on tax increases.