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Posted on June 11, 2018 | Comments Off on Election today

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20180611-specimen ballot

2018 Override Information Town of Medfield, Massachusetts The Medfield Board of Selectmen have prepared this information sheet to provide information regarding the five (5) Override questions on the June 11, 2018 Election Ballot. What is Proposition 2 ½? Limits the annual increase in the amount of revenue a city or town may raise from local property taxes. This is known as the annual levy limit. The actual tax rate, up to the levy limit, depends on the amount of spending approved by the Annual Town Meeting and other sources of revenue like state aid and excise tax revenue. The law allows the city or town to increase the levy limit with approval of voters at an election like the one we are having on June 11th . Also restricts amounts a town can borrow without specific authorization, but this is not applicable for the items on the June 11th ballot. Operating Override—permanently increases Medfield’s levy limit and becomes part of the base for calculating future years’ allowable 2 ½ % increases in levy limits. Capital Exclusion— increases the amount of property tax revenue a community may raise for only one year in order to fund a specific project. It does not increase the community’s levy limit used to determine allowable taxes in future years. Stabilization Fund Override—permanent override that is earmarked for a stabilization fund voted by Town Meeting. After the first year, the Selectmen decide the amount to be appropriated each year into the stabilization fund up to the amount approved by voters plus an annual 2 1/2 % increase. The amount is decreased if the Selectmen vote to appropriate a lower amount than what was originally authorized when the override was approved, with the decreased amount then becoming the new base against which the 2 1/2 % increase is calculated in each future year. PROPOSITION 2 ½ BALLOT QUESTIONS Question #1: Shall the town be allowed to assess an additional One‐Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of funding the Municipal Buildings Stabilization Fund created pursuant to GL Chapter 40, Section 5B for the fiscal year beginning July first, two‐thousand and eighteen? Type: Stabilization Fund Override Yes Vote: If you vote YES you are agreeing with the Annual Town Meeting Vote to increase the levy limit by One Million Dollars and create a stabilization fund. For FY19 the One Million Dollars would fund the Dale Street Feasibility Study. In the following year the Board of Selectmen may appropriate an amount up to the One Million Dollars plus 2 ½ percent for the Municipal Buildings Capital Stabilization Fund to maintain, upgrade, or construct municipal/school buildings, with subsequent year limits rising by 2 ½ % each year. No Vote: If you vote NO, the Dale Street Feasibility study will not be funded and the Municipal Buildings Capital Stabilization Fund will not be funded. June 11, 2018 Special Election CENTER at Medfield One Ice House Road Polls Open 6AM to 8PM Question #2: Shall the Town of Medfield be allowed to assess an additional One‐Million Six‐Hundred and Sixty Three Thousand One‐Hundred Three Dollars ($1,663,103) in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of increasing school and town departmental operating budgets for the fiscal year beginning July first, two‐thousand and eighteen? Type: Operating Override Yes Vote: If you vote YES you are agreeing with the budget adopted by the Annual Town Meeting, which requires an increase in the levy limit of $1,663,103. This reflects a 3.88% increase to the Town’s operating budget (including a 9% increase in health and pension benefits for Town and School employees) and a 6.16% increase to the School Department budget. This increase in the tax levy will be a permanent increase in the base used to determine future year’s levy limits. No Vote: If you vote NO, the town will not increase the levy limit and will instead adopt the balanced budget as voted at Town Meeting. A balanced budget reflects a 3.37% increase to the Town’s operating budget (including a 9% increase in health and pension benefits for Town and School employees) and a 3% increase to the School Department Budget. Question #3: Shall the Town of Medfield be allowed to assess an additional Two‐Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of providing Advanced Life Support (ALS) services for the fiscal year beginning July first, two‐thousand and eighteen? Type: Operating Override Yes Vote: If you vote YES, you are agreeing with the Annual Town Meeting vote to provide ALS services within the Fire Department by hiring additional Paramedic personnel and/or training existing FF/EMT’s as Paramedics. No Vote: If you vote NO, the Town of Medfield will not provide an ALS level of service and will remain at a basic life support level (BLS) Question #4: Shall the Town of Medfield be allowed to assess an additional One‐Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of preparing a Feasibility Study for a new park and recreational facility for the fiscal year beginning July first, two‐thousand and eighteen? Type: Capital Exclusion Yes Vote: If you vote YES, you are agreeing with the Annual Town Meeting vote to temporarily increase the tax levy for one year to conduct a feasibility study to evaluate potential sites for a new Parks and Recreation facility. This increase in the levy limit will only be in effect for FY19. No Vote: If you vote NO, the feasibility study for a new Park and Recreation facility will not be completed. Question #5: Shall the Town of Medfield be allowed to assess an additional One‐Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of preparing a Town‐wide master plan for the fiscal year beginning July first, two‐thousand and eighteen? Type: Capital Exclusion Yes Vote: If you vote YES, you are agreeing with the Annual Town Meeting vote to temporarily increase the tax levy for one year to fund an update to the last comprehensive Master Plan which was completed in 1964. This increase in the levy limit will only be in effect for FY19. No Vote: If you vote NO, completion of an update to the current Master Plan will not be accomplished in FY19.

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