If the override proposal passes, the average Acton and Boxborough family would pay $870 more next year, the year after, and each year after.
This override proposal is caused by a deficit in AB school district budget. Even if you’re parent, ask yourself if it’s wise to give even more to an administration that oversaw this deficit… Or would you rather have the freedom to chose how to spend that money yourself on your children’s education?
The school committee is threatening to cut teachers if this override proposal fails… This is a scare tactic. But also ask yourself- how did we get into this situation? Why do we need permanent tax increase instead of a one-time assessment to fill an unexpected budget hole?
It’s simple- in recent years, the school committee added controversial staff positions when it did not have the future budget to do so. This is not financial stewardship. A good financial steward asks for permission first before spending!
Demand accountability from the school committee. Vote NO for Acton and Boxborough’s operating override proposal on April 30 and May 6
Debunking claims from those pushing for operating override
Claim- Override is reasonable because AB’s per-pupil spending is less than the state average.
This misleading- With an enrollment of over 5200 pupils, AB has much more students than the average MA town. There is a baseline amount of expenses (e.g. principal, janitorial, utility, etc…) needed to operate a school. A town with fewer students and less dense schools will (mathematically) have higher higher per-pupil spending.
This claim also completely ignores taxpayer burden. Towns with higher commercial presence or higher population densities have far more room to absorb school budget increases. Acton and Boxborough are not that. Almost 90% of Acton’s revenue is residential property levy. A more responsible metric (that respects the town’s taxpayers) is the percent of town’s revenue spent on schools (total school expenditures / total levy).
Out of 14 comparable towns with great school districts and high student enrollment, AB has the third highest school spending ratio, behind only Westford and Sharon. AB already spends 11% more on its schools than average. Acton and Boxborough residents already bear much higher funding burden than the average town. At some point, we have to say enough!
Sources:
https://dlsgateway.dor.state.ma.us/reports/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=Dashboard.TrendAnalysisReports.TaxLevyByClass
https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/statereport/ppx.aspx
The 14 comparable towns are Acton-Boxborough, Belmont, Winchester, Wellesley, Cambridge, Natick, Andover, Newton, Needham, Lexington, Wayland, Westford, Hopkinton and Sharon
Claim- If override proposal fails, school district will have to cut XX teachers.
AB also has a lot of admin (non-teaching) staff. Why do you still need that many admin positions if all those teachers are getting cut? It doesn’t makes any sense and is probably fearmongering. There is a lot of places to cut spending before we even consider teachers. In recent years, the number of administrative positions have been increasing while enrollment has been falling. See the excellent analysis which discusses admin bloat.
Claim- If override proposal fails, our renowned school district will suffer permanent damage
AB has always been a renowned school district, even before the recent spending increases. Their effects are have not been measured so we cannot concretely measure the impact of rolling them back. In reality, most of the high performing school districts in Massachusetts already spends less than Acton and Boxborough (both per-pupil or as a percent of town revenue). This claim also rules out the potential to compromise on temporary spending cuts, a smaller more affordable override, or waiting for town wealth to catch up to school district demands.
Above all, this claim gives no credit to the parents of Acton Boxborough, whose dedication to their children rivals any other town. Spending cut or not, our children will outperform because we the parents care!
Claim- Town services will degrade without an override. Acton will be less safe, etc…
Override proponents have strange sense of prioritization. We saw that in their prioritization of teacher cuts over administration cuts. The town override is small and safety services should be the last to be considered for cuts. This is probably fear mongering.
Of all the high performing school districts, AB school district has one of the highest shares of town revenue. The town budget shouldn’t have to be squeezed in the first place if the school district has better fiscal stewardship.
Claim- Your property taxes won’t go up if property values go up
Unless there is a change in how your property is assessed (which is unusual), the dollar amount of your property taxes will go up. If the override proposal fails, it will go up by the usual annual increment (town average of 2.5%). If override passes, it will go up by much more (town average of almost 10%). If property values go up a lot, the average property tax rate may go down, but the average dollar amount will still go up.
Claim- Acton is due for an override, or, other towns have approved overrides.
This is irrelevant because it does not excuse the fiscal mismanagement that has contributed to AB’s actual school budget significantly exceeding what was allowed for by the town’s taxpayers. The proper use of an override is to ask for permission before spending that money!
Vote NO Override in Acton and Boxborough April 30 