$15.5 Million Override Passes at Special Election
The school building project will continue as planned.
Residents voted 1,964 to 1,090 Friday to finalize the $15.5 million addition to the budget for the school building project. The appropriation was first approved at Special Town Meeting Monday and is now final.
There wasn't much cheering when the results were announced. As Selectman Steve O'Leary put it, "none of us wanted to be here."
Selectmen Chairman Sean Delaney said he was relieved when he heard the results, but did not think it was a celebratory night.
"We've got some healing to do in this community," he said.
School Committee member Gerry Venezia said he was pleased that it passed, but admits he was nervous.
"It's a lot of money to ask for. We never wanted to come back and ask for additional funds but it was neccessary, so I'm glad it passed. I'm sorry that it's costing so much but we have to get it done and we have to finish it the right way," he said.
Since the additional funds were approved, the project will remain on schedule, items will not be removed from the budget, the MSBA will still reimburse the original amount planned and there will be no annual impact on the operating budget. The school will be built the way it was originally designed.
| Yes | No | |
| Precinct 1 | 529 | 270 |
| Precinct 2 | 268 | 226 |
| Precinct 3 | 546 | 294 |
| Precinct 4 | 621 | 300 |
| Total: | 1964 | 1090 |
Novangelus
8:34 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Congratulations. Education should always be a priority. I do hope that Republicans such as Brad Jones who voted to raise taxes in service of their dependency on government to provide themselves with a specific and expensive benefit will use their transformation into "tax and spenders" to broaden their perspective on the fiscal needs of the rest of the town, state and country. But I doubt it.
Mel Webster
10:24 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Not sure what you have against Brad Jones, but he has represented this town extremely well. I would like to thank him for his ongoing support of the education system in North Reading.
Stev
9:01 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Way to go! This should really do wonders for our property values as the market on
"for sale" homes in North Reading begins to go on the rise.....
Mel Webster
10:26 am on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Take a look at how quickly houses on the market are getting gobbled up in this town. They hit the market and weeks later or less they are sold. There is a reason for that: families with young children want to be here to take advantage of the school system and the new high school and middle school that will soon sit on top of the hill.
Novangelus
4:04 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Mel: I have nothing against Brad Jones personally. I just find it noteworthy that a Republican electorate is forcing high taxes down everybody else's throats to pay for things like tennis courts. Why are you all so dependent on government? Why do you want a single-payor education system that the rest of us can't opt out of?
Mel Webster
7:47 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
The high school has varsity boys and girls tennis teams. Those teams require courts on which to practice and play home matches. The residents of this town will also be able to use these courts. What is your suggested alternate solution?
JR
12:26 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
A Republican electorate in North Reading - Not!
Mel Webster
5:14 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
In national and statewide elections, North Reading has voted for republican candidates time and time again. In addition, the state representative and senator who represent this town are both republican.
Elena Luongo
9:39 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Does anyone know what the new tax rate will be? Prior to this override, I believe it was $16.04. Thank you!!
John Intorcio
11:28 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
This override adds $0.39 to bring it to $16.43.
Mel Webster
12:35 am on Sunday, March 24, 2013
Elena/John -- We really do not know what the new tax rate will be for next year. However, the additional funds authorized for the school project will not have to be borrowed until we get closer to the end of the project so they should not have any impact next year on the tax rate. However, in two years, if we end up having to borrow all of the $15.5 million, as John said, this will add 39 cents to the tax rate.
John Intorcio
12:16 am on Monday, March 25, 2013
Agreed Mel. I lept ahead.