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Politics & Government

Belmont Votes: An Override Primer

With the vote just days away, all you need to know about the June 14 ballot

In less than two weeks, voters will be going to the polls to determine whether or not to pass a Proposition 2 1/2 override.

On June 14, residents will be asked to raise $2 million through general taxes to help restore services and positions to the town and school departments for fiscal year 2011.

Belmont needs the money, according to leading boards and committees, to provide the bare minimum finances for educating students, public safety, maintaining the town's infrastructure and providing services for the elderly, public library and some long-neglected recreational facilities.

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The precise question voters will be asked June 14 is: "Shall the town of Belmont be allowed to access an additional $2,000,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of funding $1,000,000 for operating expenditures of the Belmont Public Schools, $600,000 for capital expenditures and $400,000 for operating expenditures of the Town of Belmont for the fiscal year beginning July first, two thousand and ten?"

A copy of the fiscal '11 budget showing services with available funds and services if the override passes is available on the town web site and in the library, demonstrating exactly what will be restored if the town has the additional money for the upcoming fiscal year.

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During two budget forums in May, representatives from the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Warrant Committee detailed reasons they believe the override is necessary and explained which services and employees for the town and schools would be cut should it fail.

With the extra $1 million, the schools will be able to restore about six teaching positions that include early intervention specialists in reading and math to help struggling students, an MCAS support teacher at the middle school, curriculum directors for science and for social studies; keep the elementary school libraries open; maintain freshman sports – preventing about 90 students from having to compete against older, more skilled players for scarce positions on junior varsity teams – and the middle school cross country track teams for 100 students; purchase textbooks and technology equipment; restore half the cutting to building and grounds of school buildings; and maintain support staff including guidance counselors and psychologists.

Capital improvements, with an additional $600,000, would include road repairs, sidewalk repairs; re-pointing the police station; and funding for the outside of the high school to prevent water damage and improve energy efficiency.

An additional $400,000 for operating expenditures would allow the town to hire two police officers, one for traffic management and the other a full-time school resource officer at Belmont High School; two firefighters to fulfill enough staff for all shifts; restore Sunday hours at the library from 16 to 30 weeks a year; one police cruiser; and a mechanic and truck driver for the public works department.

In addition to public officials, residents are urging voters to approve the override. Onebelmont.org –a ballot question committee -- formed in mid-April to educate residents about the upcoming Proposition 2 1/2 override vote on June 14 and help them understand why the town needs it. Members of the group say an override is not a luxury but a necessity because, without it, valuable town services will decrease as well as the quality of the school system that is a huge attraction for people living in Belmont.

They say the override will amount to an additional cost each year of approximately $290 for the owner of an average single-family home.

Town departments have cut and consolidated as much as possible, town officials have said.

And the schools, according to its officials, have instituted as many cost-saving measures as possible but are being asked to do more with less money, given the state and federal mandates such as Leave No Child Behind.

Officials are asking every voter to come out on June 14 and let their voice be heard. Voting takes place at the following sites:

  • Precinct 1: Belmont Memorial Library, 336 Concord Ave.
  • Precinct 2: Town Hall, 455 Concord Ave.
  • Precinct 3: All Saints Church, Brewster Hall, 17 Clark St.
  • Precinct 4: Daniel Butler School, 90 White St.
  • Precinct 5: Fire Headquarters, 299 Trapelo Rd.
  • Precinct 6: Belmont Senior Center, 266 Beech St.
  • Precinct 7: Burbank School gym, 266 School St.
  • Precinct 8: Winn Brook School, 97 Waterhouse Rd.
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