Lakeville voters go to the polls May 19 for override vote

LAKEVILLE --- Lakeville voters will head to the polls Tuesday, May 19 to decide whether to approve a Proposition 2 ½ override that would boost the town budget.

Approving the override, which allows a town to spend beyond state-mandated limits, would keep town and school services roughly at their current staffing and service levels, Town Administrator Andrew Sukeforth said.

Passing an override would bring the town’s overall budget, including the Freetown-Lakeville school district, to $40,566,129. Without an override, the budget would decrease to $38,640,207.

With a failed override, the schools would be particularly hard hit, with the potential loss of 50 positions and various programs, school officials have said.

Their financial increases are mainly attributed to staffing, health insurance and computer replacement and fire suppression upgrade costs, school officials have said. They also cite changes in state aid and use of leftover funds from the current budget as reasons for the district’s budget challenges.

The town may also lose its vacant town planner position and be forced to make the assistant town collector and assessor posts, both also vacant, part-time.

The human resources director and assistant and the assistant town accountant are scheduled to have reduced hours without the override, Sukeforth said.

Budget woes are affecting many communities. Costs of  health insurance and pensions have “skyrocketed,’’ Sukeforth said. State aid, he noted, “doesn’t keep up with inflation.''

New growth such as industrial development is “falling off a cliff,’’ he said. While growth was never particularly strong given the town’s rural nature, this year’s is the worst in 25 years, he said.

To ensure funding levels remain steady beyond next year, the override is being presented in three-year increments.

The town is seeking different amounts each year. If the override passes, the first year will add $2,615,700 to the budget. Voters will also be asked to support $1,300,000 in the second year and $1 million for the third year.

Based on an average home value of $625,000, this would translate to an estimated tax increase of $525 for the first year, $256 for the second and $194 for the third year, for a total of just under $1,000.

Supporters of the override say the added finances would help keep town services and ensure that schools have needed staffing. Signs have popped up around town urging voters to invest in the town’s future.

Opponents have questioned how residents could afford these increases.

Taxpayers have other actual and potential expenses as well.  Taxpyters will also be paying for the new fire station, which was approved by voters last year, and could also be facing the cost of a new building at Old Colony Regional Professional Technical High School. Voters will decide whether to approve that spending on June 20.

 The ultimate decision rests with voters. If the override is approved at the ballot box May 19, the question then must also be approved by Town Meeting voters June 8.

The polls are open from noon to 8 p.m. May 19 at Loon Pond Lodge, 28 Precinct St.