On Saturday, Town Meeting voters shot down one resident’s pitch to shave 1% off the overall budget. Soon after, they agreed with another resident’s push to improve public safety by increasing the budget to hire two more dispatchers. Read the full article → from Annual Town Meeting votes No on budget decrease, Yes on specific increase
The Advisory Committee has issued it’s report to Annual Town Meeting, along with detailed information on this year’s budgets. It includes an explanation for their budget recommendations, plus the reasons behind some key Articles they voted to support or not support.
The report also comes with some financial forecasts and warnings. The most notable is a forecast that the Town seems to be headed towards needing a Proposition 2 ½ Override within a few years. Read the full article → from Advisory’s report for Town Meeting and the FY25 Budget
It looks like the Town is facing a bigger than usual challenge this year in trying to rein budget increases in. Big drivers for tax increases this year aren’t the same one we have seen in the past couple of years. Read the full article → from Residents may be looking at a big tax increase.
My Southborough accepts signed letters to the editor submitted by Southborough residents. Letters may be emailed to mysouthborough@gmail.com.
The following letter is from Carl Guyer] Read the full article → from Letter: Wasted Time, Wasted Effort
Select Board goals includes an increasing an annual surcharge on tax bills that some board members pitch could reduce residents’ overall tax burdens. “Finance” goals also cover contracting a grant writer and other administrative changes. Read the full article → from Select Board’s Goals include “considering” tripling CPA surcharge on tax bills, and more (Updated)
The following letter to the editor is from resident Carl Guyer to present data and explain why he continues to advocate for property tax-rates to be split (with a lower rate for residential properties than commercial/industrial properties). Read the full article → from Letter: Modify residential to commercial/industrial tax rate ratio
The Advisory Committee asked me to make its annual report to Town Meeting voters available to readers. Read the full article → from Annual Town Meeting: Advisory Report & Budget Articles (Updated)
Last week, the Select Board agreed to approve a single tax classification. Read the full article → from 2023 (single) Tax Rate Set
On Tuesday, the Select Board will host the annual Tax Classification Hearing and discuss next steps for resuming construction on the St. Mark’s Street and Park project.
(Given the interest some readers have on those topics, I wanted to give advance notice.) Read the full article → from Taxes and “completing Pocket Park” – Tuesday
There have been some updates worth highlighting since I gave an overview of the Warrant three weeks ago. So, here is my updated look at what voters will be asked to decide. Read the full article → from Special Town Meeting Tonight
Although the Town hasn’t yet set next year’s tax rate, the Select Board is predicting that residents will be paying an average of 5.89% more in taxes year. Read the full article → from Tax outlook bleak again (Updated)
This week, the Warrant was finalized for the Special Town Meeting in less than three weeks. Read the full article → from Special Town Meeting – October 13
The following letter to the editor is from resident Carl Guyer to present data and explain why he advocates for property tax-rates to be split (with a lower rate for residential properties than commercial/industrial properties). Read the full article → from Letter: 2022 Southborough Real Estate Tax Policy Review
Last Night, Annual Town Meeting voters passed 23 Articles. (One was first amended, but none were rejected.) Read the full article → from Annual Town Meeting Update: Articles that passed and what’s still on Warrant for tonight (Updated)