Panel explains $23.25 million override on May 5 ballot, warns of deep school cuts if it fails

Summary

Members of Brookline’s Expenditures and Revenue Study Committee told a public webinar the Select Board chose a $23,250,000 override question that would raise the town’s tax levy just under 7% over three years; panelists said a failed override would require immediate school and town staff cuts and service reductions.

Members of Brookline’s Expenditures and Revenue Study Committee on a May 5 webinar described the ballot question voters will see on May 5 and laid out what would happen if the override fails.

"Property taxes do represent roughly 73% of Brookline's overall revenues," said Cliff Brown, a member of the Expenditures and Revenue Study Committee, explaining the fiscal pressures that drove the panel’s recommendations. Brown said the committee projects a three-year structural deficit of about $7.95 million for the town and roughly $18,000,000 for the schools — a combined shortfall the committee summarized as approximately $25,900,000 over three years.

Sam Mintz, editor of brookaline.news and one of the webinar hosts, framed the legal context: "Under a state law called Proposition 2 and a half ... a tax override is built into that law as a way to override that…

Panel explains $23.25 million override on May 5 ballot, warns of deep school cuts if it fails

Summary

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