$189 A Year

The amount of additional property tax on an average home (valued at $306,000) in Northampton following the passing of a $2 million dollar override yesterday. Of the 9,335 residents who voted, 60% approved the override which passed in 11 of 14 wards. More details of the election can be found at masslive and for those who are interested in the methods behind the scenes of the successful campaign, check out voteyesnorthampton.

The Facilitation of Community Choices Committee, in its presentation to the community, illustrated this same additional tax increase for Amherst residents for three potential override levels ranging from $1 million to $3 million. The average assessment in Amherst is higher than that of Northampton ($332,500 as of July 2008) and the tax rate is higher ($15.82 compared to $11.48 for Northampton), so the average additional tax burden in Amherst would be greater. For Amherst, if there were the same $2 million override in FY10 as Northampton, that would mean an additional $319 per year in property taxes for a resident with a house assessed at $332,500.

Since it is being quoted frequently in Town Meeting these days, I thought I would excerpt the section on overrides from the FCCC report here:

The Committee recognizes that an override will probably be necessary at some point in the next 5 years to sustain even the most essential school and municipal services. All members agree that an override will not solve Amherst’s long-term budget gap and substantial cutbacks will be necessary regardless. Committee members hold a range of views regarding the timing of an override and the criteria that must be met before considering an override. Some members are against seeking an override vote for the FY2010 budget because they fear it would be an excuse to postpone difficult budget decisions. Others would favor keeping that option open if State aid decreases significantly. Others think an FY2010 override is necessary to preserve essential services while town leaders develop a restructuring plan. We recommend that if an override is put forward, a menu override approach be used to allow voters a choice of where to direct the revenues.

It will be interesting to see whether the vote in Northampton increases interest in a FY10 override for Amherst or whether Town Meeting members and others will follow the recommendations of the Finance Committee and vote the budget as it has been proposed.