In many of the state’s poorer and economically challenged communities, override votes are a nonstarter for residents. That in turn has forced officials in those communities to either cut costs or get creative when faced with budget shortfalls. A common strategy has seen communities maximize their levy capacity with business owners.
For example, the city of Everett, which has never held an override vote and for years has boasted the highest commercial property-tax rate in the state, extracts around $43 in taxes for every $1,000 in assessed property value owned by businesses. That's nearly triple the city’s residential rate.
Meanwhile, the strains on Everett’s budget have steadily worsened, largely due to the rapid expansion in its public-school enrollment numbers.
This year, the state already has seen at least 15 override votes, seven of which passed. Wellesley’s $3.35 million general fund approval was the year’s biggest so far. The commonwealth saw 55 votes, of which 35 passed, last year.
posted by Jeff Bennett
