>>Valley Patriot>> |
The last year we had an override question on the ballot was 2002. That $4 million tax increase failed at the polls by a 2 to 1 margin. However, just since then with no override, our taxes have gone up an average of $900 or 21%. Has your income increased 21% in the last three years? What about inflation? That has only increased 6.7% over the same time period. What about Social Security payments for retirees? Only a 6.2% increase. #2. North Andover has had more Proposition 2 ½ Tax Overrides on the ballot than any other town or city in the state. If there is an override at the March 29th election this year, it will be the 36th (that is not a misprint!) override vote the Town has been asked to approve since 1980. In 2002, Finance Committee member Steve Dawe pointed out that Stoughton, a town with similar student population, spending and test results to North Andover, recently rejected its first - that is first! - Prop. 2 ½ Override. #3. Compared to 15 towns similar to North Andover in population and household income, North Andover has the fifth highest tax bill. In 2002, North Andover was in sixth place and has moved up one notch since then, even with no overrides passing. Compare North Andover’s $5,288 tax bill with the similar towns of Chelmsford at $4467 or Burlington at $2985. The state median is $3209. #4. North Andover already has a 3% surtax on your tax bill called the Community Preservation Tax. Proponents of this tax four years ago said they would phase it out after five years. However, they are now talking about extending it indefinitely and the Finance Committee, no surprise, seems receptive to an extension. The Community Preservation Committee which decides how to spend this pot of money recently proposed to plant 124 new trees and install vintage-looking street signs in the Machine Shop Village section of town. Wouldn’t you rather have that money back in your pocket to help pay for the increased heating bills this winter? Or, if you are in a generous mood, wouldn’t you rather have that tax money directed towards a badly needed, new police station? #5. In the fall of 2003, the High School Building Committee announced that the new school was coming in $5 million under budget. Almost $2 million of that money was directly from the taxpayers of North Andover. Instead of returning the money to the town, it was spent on artificial turf for the playing fields and other school amenities. If that money had been returned to town coffers, it would have gone a long way in paying for other capital projects such as the new police station. #6. The Town must live within its means, like families do. It should adjust its spending to match its income. #7. The Town needs to reform its health insurance programs and institute long range financial planning. #8. We should help young couples with children, struggling to pay their taxes, stay in town. #9. Likewise, we must help our seniors on limited budgets to keep their homes. #10. Finally,
because it is YOUR money, not the Town’s money.
Don’t feel badly about wanting to keep some of YOUR
own money in YOUR own pocket for YOUR own needs. *Send your questions
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#1.
Your average single family tax bill has gone up 42% just
since the year 2000 and is now at $5,288. Ask
yourself: Are we getting 42% better education in our
schools since 2000? Are our streets being plowed
42% better? Do you feel 42% safer than you did in
2000?