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Overrides lose
BY STEPHEN PETERSON SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Wednesday, June 27, 2007 1:52 AM EDT


Richard La Touf of Norton makes his position known Tuesday. (Staff photo by MARTIN GAVIN)




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NORTON - The town remains one of the few communities in the state never to supercede Proposition 2 1/2, the state tax-limiting law.

Voters turned out in droves for Tuesday's special election, and for the second consecutive year shot down an override, this time rejecting two separate measures.

Residents by a vote of 2,341 to 2,090 defeated a temporary $1.9 million override, called a debt exclusion, which would have boosted the average tax bill by $63.36 in the first year and declining amounts for seven subsequent years.

The money would have been used to pay down building and equipment debt, freeing up funds to make building repairs approved at town meeting in May for Yelle Elementary School and Norton Middle School. Officials say the town now has to borrow more than $1 million.

Voters also rejected by a larger margin, 2,584 to 1,860, a permanent $1.07 million budget override, requested by the school committee but not the finance committee, which would have bumped the average homeowner's bill by $161.92 a year in perpetuity. The money would have gone to the school budget for the rehiring of seven teachers, reopening libraries, and purchasing instructional materials, among other expenses.
A total of 4,461 voters - 41.9 percent of the town's 10,642 registered voters - went to the polls, by far the highest turnout for an area election this year.

"I think it is a message from the people. They don't want to have their taxes raised at the moment," said Richard LaTouf, sporting a T-shirt with the words, "Vote No New Taxes."

"I believe people basically support the schools. We are paying taxes anyway for that," he said. "We just don't want to be overburdened with extra taxes."

School and town officials were disappointed, some taking the loss in stride.

"I just think this town bit its nose off to spite its face," school board member Beth McManus said.

"Financially, it was the right move," she said of the debt exclusion. "They shot it down just to say Norton has never passed an override. I just think that is a shame."

Selectmen Chairman Robert Kimball was more stoic.

"I am surprised the debt exclusion didn't pass. I knew it would be close," he said, noting funds approved for the middle school roof and Yelle School "have to come from somewhere. Something has got to be taken away."

Kimball wasn't surprised with the result of the budget override.

The selectman said he didn't think it was so much a case of older residents voting against the proposals, as has been speculated.
"I don't think people young and old are in a position to afford it," Kimball said.

David Whynacht, a parent of children in the elementary and middle schools, backed the overrides.

"I am concerned with the housing values should the high school lose accreditation," Whynacht said.
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Willing to help the schools wrote on Jun 27, 2007 11:49 PM:

" I agree that the schools need more money. But is the money going to go to the schools or is the town going to find other things to use it for. I would much rather have each tax payer add $100 to $500 every other year to there tax bill to do something to improve the schools (building improvement,books) then a 2 1/2 override. "

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Blu wrote on Jun 27, 2007 9:00 PM:

" COMMUNITY MEMBER wrote: Perhaps we should all pay extra fees for calling out Police, Fire or other town services that we use as members of the community. Amen to that. I'm a law abiding healthy person, I don't really need a free ambulance or police service and I certainly don't need a senior center. Shut them down! Seriously. How awful would it be to make everything "a la carte" and completely disintegrate the concept of a community? Oh, wait, I live in Norton. That's what they want around here. Switzerland wrote: The Schools, the Selectmen, the Town Manager (who we are lucky to have) and the Finance Committee need to convince the Town that revenue has been maximized and all efficiencies have been gained before the override will pass. Yeah, except that the rest of the town didn't even support the schools on putting the override up to begin with. I do agree that the teachers could pay more for healthcare, but to ask them to take a paycut or freeze is ridiculous. We already pay them sixth from the lowest in the state, and we are so lucky to have awesome teachers around here. I don't think I'd want to stick around in this town if I were a teacher with some of the degrading opinions people seem to have about them here. "

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George. wrote on Jun 27, 2007 8:48 PM:

" New 25 yr.old;-- Didn't make sense that the teachers of Norton are moving to better their childrens education. Would'nt the children be better off if their parents are teaching them. Maybe you should'nt have moved to better yourself. "

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a no vote wrote on Jun 27, 2007 8:22 PM:

" Regarding "new 25 year old homeowner" why should I want young families moving into town in even greater numbers. Households with kids in school do not pay their freight and then when the kids graduate they move somewhere else and that town gets the next 30 years taxes from a no kid household. Regarding the televised debate Mr. Freeman is clearly not informed on business finance. Taking actions to raise the interest rate you pay is bad. I voted no because growth for a town is bad for its finances. Statistics show that it costs more per capita to service larger communities. A town is not a business where growth means more money; for a town growth means more expense. Norton may not be the right place for everyone but I like it. "

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RT Mom wrote on Jun 27, 2007 8:03 PM:

" I have to say the "no" people have to be the meanest people I've met. They have no shame in calling people (and children) names, yelling obscenities at HS buses and town officials, and accusing the "yes" side of stealing signs. All political signs get stolen, both sides. But apart from the plain old mean people, are so many who are misinformed and don't care to find out the correct information. If you want answers, read the paper or attend school committee meetings. It is much less work not to know but don't act like the information is not there. It is. If you have children in the system especially, you should do your homework and become informed. "

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Disappointed wrote on Jun 27, 2007 7:49 PM:

" I'm very disappoited with the outcome of yesterday. But what I find even more disappointing is the joy people are getting from this debate. It is clear from previous comments how much anger there is in Norton, especially from some of those who have clearly voted "no". It is over why do we have to continue to listen to how it is everyone elses' fault,"the town leaders, the people in the new homes,and the teachers." What kind of legacy are you leaving your children and grandchildren? Please don't attack the teachers who will be faced with an even more difficult job in September. They are the ones who will be there for the students everyday, regardless what their parents and grandparents voted. They will continue to do the best they can without the proper resources and very full classrooms. Everyone has the right to vote how they wish, but let's stop ripping people apart over this. It really has a negative impact on the town as a whole. This town is filled with wonderful, smart children who really do deserve better. It is time to start setting a better example for them. "

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new 25 year-old homeowner wrote on Jun 27, 2007 6:39 PM:

" I have no children and am living on a very tight budget with my year old mortgage and condo fees but for $6 a month I would gladly support the town and it's schools. I'm sorry that my vote failed and that people are more interested in arguing for the sake of being heard than in considering that property values are only going to fall further. I know my own home value has decreased...I should have waited longer before purchasing and stayed in Easton, but oh well. When a school system is poor and underfunded it hurts the home values. Great, your taxes are lower than others', but you won't have young couples move into town to raise their families instead those like me choose to leave. Your house won't sell to another empty nester. It's a sad thing to know Norton teachers move to surrounding towns so that their own children can get a better education. Also, to wickedsmart, Norton children aren't collectively "dumb" the problem is that you won't fund their education so that they have current equipment and texts. Children in 2007 can't keep up with peers when their books are older than I am. However, regardless of anyone's personal feelings, movingforward is right. Now, it's up to the town to deal with the consequences and try once again to figure out how to cope with what they have. Good luck. "

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George. wrote on Jun 27, 2007 6:03 PM:

" Get rid of the union! They hold you hostage almost every year for more money. They tell you how much to pay a teacher, in turn the town tells you we got to raise your taxes. Go with a bidding system with the qualifications of the teacher. You can pick and choose the best for the money, then you have the power to choose and eliminate when a teacher does not perform to the standards. No more worrying about the begining of a school year, you'll know they'll be there to teach. The money you save could be your tax dollar and the money saved could be put into school programs. "

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Mike wrote on Jun 27, 2007 4:55 PM:

" Why would anyone want to be on the school committee with all the challenges facing Norton schools? "

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NO NEW TAXES wrote on Jun 27, 2007 4:14 PM:

" What about new growth in town? You never get the figure. It's always about 2-1/2 and remember add new growth. How much is that every year? Where does that go? 70% to schools and 30% to the town side. Is it like that in every community? "

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NO NEW TAXES wrote on Jun 27, 2007 4:12 PM:

" To Community Member: Norton does not have town services to hike fees. We do not have trash pick up or sewer in all areas. We do have water and we pay! Why does everyone think we are not giving a good education unless we get an override? The teachers should be teaching not discussing the override w/ kids... "

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Vote No New Taxes wrote on Jun 27, 2007 4:07 PM:

" To Concerned Parent, we should keep our mouth shut? I think we were heard loud and clear!! Get it NO MEANS NO! Get your teachers to take a pay cut or freeze. Why don't they pay more for healthcare? Is it about the children? NO it's about the teachers and greed. Higher property taxes will not help sell a house. "

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movingforward wrote on Jun 27, 2007 3:33 PM:

" Whether you voted yes or no, it’s official. The people of Norton have spoken – the school committee will have to deal with its fiscal challenges by working within its current budget. To achieve this, user fees will continue, libraries will remain closed, classroom sizes will grow, continued accreditation will still be in question. Last week these were scare tactics to many (thank you Mr. Freeman for your cogent, insightful words in last week’s cable debate). Now, they are just real consequences of a town’s refusal to allow its school system to keep pace with rising costs, accommodate student growth and remain current and competitive in today’s education environment. "

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User Fees wrote on Jun 27, 2007 3:30 PM:

" In response to "Hindsight". You suggested the following 1.)If you want extra trash to be picked up, buy another town bag 2.)If the kids ride the bus, pay extra 3.) They play sports, user fee 4.)If you child enrolls into the school system, pay for it.(what???). Your 1st suggestion seems reasonable to me (though it is possible someone could come up with an argument to convince me otherwise). As for your 2nd suggestion maybe someone can explain to me why in the world it isn't a state law that transportation on a school bus to public schools isn't a required free service??? As to your 3rd suggestion, I can afford to pay these user fees for my children if they want to participate in any of the extra-curricular activities through the public schools/town (Our household income is about $130,000 annually) but I'm sure there are MANY families whose household income is a lot less than our family and who cannot easily afford to pay the fees. These might be families where both spouses work very hard full-time at their jobs which may be low-paying. Now you have a case of children from poorer families being excluded from community programs through no fault of their own. If you are going to have school activities which are sponsored by the school than every student should have the opportunity to participate and not be excluded because of financial reasons. Your 4th Suggestion doesn't even deserve a response. "

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Jake. wrote on Jun 27, 2007 3:28 PM:

" To the Sun: What happened in the wake of Attleboro's trash hike!!! "

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COMMUNITY Member wrote on Jun 27, 2007 2:59 PM:

" With respect to the "Nortoon Parent" who wrote: "Also, for all the people who voted yes, take the money you would have spent on the extra taxes and donate it to the town. " I as a member of the community and Parent paid the bus fee for my children last year and donated $300.00 directly to the school system. As a member of the community, looking for a solution to the problem, I was willing to pay this money even though I do not come from means and live within my budget. There was an earlier thread in the discussion which implied that Parents needs to stop whining and pay more than their share if their kids are in school. This view is skewed. There are many members of this community who live modestly, it is not an easy decision to vote yourself into paying more taxes. Why should parents that currently have children in the schools pay more than parents who benefitted in the past? Schools just like Fire and Police are a public good paid for by taxes. As a Taxpayer, I expect that my money funds a school that provides a decent education, including art and music, which helps children develop into a well-rounded individual. If Parents have to pay more for their kids to get a basic education, then I say hike the fees for ALL public goods and have all members in the community share the burden. "

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2B wrote on Jun 27, 2007 2:53 PM:

" Bill - Your criticism of Bookkeeper's analogy was wrong. Even if you borrow money to pay for a roof, you still have to live within your means to pay the loan. "

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Civics Prof wrote on Jun 27, 2007 2:51 PM:

" To Wicked Smart Norton Resident. Do you really want to alienate the UMass alumni in Norton (and other towns). If you perceive Norton kids as dumb then maybe you should get to know them better. How about running for school committee. I still oppose overrides. Towns should live within their budgets. "

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Bookkeeper wrote on Jun 27, 2007 2:48 PM:

" Bill - you're correct in that the town is the taxpayer. My analogy stands though. The town selectmen and school committee work for us. They are told what to do and they know how much money they have to do it. The Rails to Trails is a good point. Basics first. Luxuries second. "

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Boot Em' wrote on Jun 27, 2007 2:03 PM:

" Fire the teachers union, and hire the new teachers that they would be strongarming. These new teachers, work hard for lower wages.(since they won't have to pay dues.) Pay merit pay. The problem is always employee benefits and the unions only want to grow more jobs thru taxpayer "investment", instead of doing the job that they were paid to do. If a repairman spent two days on a repair and then demanded more money so he could get training or hire an assistant, he would be out the door. WHERE IS THE COMPETITION?!?! "

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yet another concerned parent wrote on Jun 27, 2007 2:02 PM:

" Repsonding to Faulted Logic, my logic is not wrong; I doubt the town could/would use the triennial reassesment of property to affect the tax levy ceiling...otherwise that would have happened already. And in some cases (as in today) fair market property values are decreasing while everday expenses are increasing. I'm not happy about the middle school situation either, but I don't think it points to wastefulness on the part of the school system. I'm not a lawyer so I don't really know what practical legal recourse we have at this point. What do the "NO voters" (I don't personally like labels) think about the situation at Yelle--an OLD building in need of structural repair? Should we let it fall down??? "

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Bill wrote on Jun 27, 2007 2:01 PM:

" Norton Parent - just for the record, the town has never spent a dime on "Rails to Trails" - but don't let the facts get in the way of a good argument. There is so much misinformation out there. Do the town officials have to do a better job? Yes, they do. Norton has NEVER exceeded the Prop 2-1/2 cap in 26 years - one of about 15 towns to manage to do that - and yet all you people think there is so much waste. Think about it - there needs to be an adjustment, the way Taunton did this weekend. "

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brian d. wrote on Jun 27, 2007 1:37 PM:

" sadly this issue in Norton has become less about the needs of the community and more about winning and losing. the argument that the schools can live on less, is simply false. just like with anything in life, you get what you pay for, and predictably Norton public schools will sooner rather then later sink lower across the board. it will be harder and harder to attract quality teachers to a community where you have to worry about having a job year to year. Unlike when many where younger, kids today compete on a global scale, and our school system is simply not equipped to keep up....So once again the 'vote no" group has had a chance to gather there forces, and win one more for the gipper!!!....because whether we all want to admit it or not thats what this has become in Norton. How else do you explain voting down an extra $61 to fix the roof at the school, which is less then $6 a month. apparently we place a value of less then $6 on our school system.....hey cheer up maybe next year we can lower it to a $1.99 and maybe then we can win one...oh thats right, its not about that, its about just saying no of the sake of no. whether we all know it or not, Norton became a less of a town yesterday. "

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Norton Parent wrote on Jun 27, 2007 1:34 PM:

" Thank You "Bookkeeper". We all have budgets to live by. I have had many years that I did not get a 2 1/2% increase in pay and some years took large pay cuts. I don't run to my boss for more money crying that I can't pay my bills. I've lived in Norton my whole adult life and watched the town throwing our money away on projects like the "Rails to Trails" project and then they come begging for money for the schools. Stop waisting money on pet projects that most residents could care less about. When I need money for my childrens education, or any of their other needs, I don't run out and buy a new car or take a Florida vacation. I set my priorities, get rid of the waiste and last but not least LIVE WITHIN MY BUDGET! Also, for all the people who voted yes, take the money you would have spent on the extra taxes and donate it to the town. "

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Wicked Smart Norton Resident wrote on Jun 27, 2007 1:29 PM:

" Most kids in Norton don't have the intellectual capital to get into anything beyond UMass. Why should I be spending a sizable amount of money unless students are going to good colleges? The 4-5 intelligent kids who go to top-notch schools every year are getting accepted despite the high school's lack of modern instructional materials. They get in because of their innate abilites. This town has dumb kids because their parents are dumb. Simple as that. "

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haha wrote on Jun 27, 2007 1:20 PM:

" you guys should all move to attleboro. "

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Bill wrote on Jun 27, 2007 1:16 PM:

" Bookkeeper - with all due respect, it is your analogy that is faulty. The town does not work for the taxpayers - the town IS the taxpayers! The town does not ask for a raise - it looks at the needs and assesses what it will take to pay for them. Then it does what it has to in order to pay for what it needs. Do you really expect major repairs to be made to multi-million dollar buildings and still stay within an increase of 2-1/2 percent? This boss-employee analogy is incorrect, and we need to get past that. "

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Bookkeeper wrote on Jun 27, 2007 1:01 PM:

" to "Bill". Your analogy is faulty. When my house needs a roof I do take out a loan. Then I pay for the principle and interest from my everyday income. I plan so I can still eat and pay other bills. I also don't say to my boss that I need a raise to pay for the roof. "

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I'm right you're wrong wrote on Jun 27, 2007 12:56 PM:

" Have you noticed the name calling has started? Thanks "15yearresident" - this will keep the debate out of the mud. To "person with >500k house" did the problems with the schools happen overnight? Where were you while the decline was happening? Did you attend school committee or Selectmen's meetings to bring up your concerns? "

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Amusing wrote on Jun 27, 2007 12:52 PM:

" The last time an override question came up in North Attleborough, I remember seeing a very expensive house with two signs on the lawn. One was PRO override. The other was FOR SALE. "

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Faulted Logic wrote on Jun 27, 2007 12:49 PM:

" In response to the sermon from "yet another concerned parent" Prop 2 1/2 is faulted but not for the reason you cite. 2 1/2 allows for inflation by mandating for the routine reassessment of all property every three years. Yes the school department is wasteful. Otherwise they would be chasing contractors to fix the shoddy work. I, too, attended schools in South Attleboro in the 1960's, probably with "bad Buildings", and I do not remember a single leak from a window or roof in the building. I wish someone from the School committee would respond on this issue. "

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yet another concerned parent wrote on Jun 27, 2007 12:33 PM:

" ...continued from previous... But many people feel comfortable to hide behind generalities; “the school committee is wasteful”, “make the school system live within its budget”, etc. and ignore the fact that Prop 2-1/2 does not allow a town to keep pace with cost of inflation over the long run; DO THE MATH. Yes, this override is “forever”; but I along with most other people am looking to get libraries open and teachers back in the classroom, that’s it. No fluffy classes, no fancy programs…just a solid core curriculum with some BASIC extra curricular activities. I don’t see why we can’t vote for at least one override to restore our basic level of educational services. By the way, I am not sitting on a trust fund, nor am I looking to raise taxes and then move to “Boca”; I moved to Norton to raise my family, I plan to stay here, and I plan to help ensure that an override is passed if that’s what’s needed to get the schools back in shape. "

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yet another concerned parent wrote on Jun 27, 2007 12:31 PM:

" I find myself shocked at the resistance from so many townspeople of an override to support the school system. It seems as if many folks—like Mr. Freeman (see last week’s) debate—will NEVER vote for an override, regardless of the situation of OUR school system. Mr. Marshal (same debate) along with other folks, refer back to times where they didn’t have sports programs or leaky elementary school roofs (see below…how do you recall this?????). These people live in the past and do not seem interested in making things any better for the schools. Their kids are through the schools and they could honestly care less…shameful. Should I not care about issues that do not directly affect me at this moment; senior centers, etc??? Well, I do care regardless of your selfishness. Convincing these people otherwise is a wasted effort. I should state that if you TRULY cannot afford to pay more in taxes—then vote NO—I would too. For families that have children going to the public schools, could afford the increase and who voted NO; shame on you. I hope you’re happy paying the higher fees rather than a deductible property tax increase. ...continued, I have much to say... "

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Bill wrote on Jun 27, 2007 12:23 PM:

" The election is over, but the problems remain. There was no victory here. Voting No solved nothing. The people who voted No now need to come up with some solution to fix the buildings and solve the problems. When you need serious repairs on your home, do you just take it out of your everyday income? Or do you take out a loan to allow you to make the repairs? This idea of "living within your budget" is phony. One of the schools in need of repair is over 50 years old. Norton has never passed an override - it has lived within its budget for the past 26 years. At some point, something needs to be done. Don't just say No - offer real solutions. "

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Switzerland wrote on Jun 27, 2007 12:20 PM:

" The "NO" people are right! The "YES" people are right! Why are the "No"'s right?: The Schools, the Selectmen, the Town Manager (who we are lucky to have) and the Finance Committee need to convince the Town that revenue has been maximized and all efficiencies have been gained before the override will pass. Why are the "Yes"'s right?:the school is obviously severely underfunded based on the per pupil spending gap (>10% below the average). The root of the problem, in my opinion, lies with bad decisions decades ago related to the 495 ramp and decisions like Great Woods causing us to have very little commercial taxpayers. It's time to stop trying to convince the "NO"'s that they are wrong without taking any steps to clearly SHOW them that they are wrong. Let's start now. "

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Bye Bye wrote on Jun 27, 2007 11:48 AM:

" In response to "A message to Statistics". Okay, we'll see you later. The town has been run for a long time without whiners crying about "our children". If you truly cared about the town and "our children" you would help find a way to make things work within the budget. So good luck in your move, I hope you find a nice town where everything centers around "our children" . If you contact the Mass Municipal Assoc they will be happy to provide you with a list of Override friendly towns. And your house has probably retained a certain amount of value because of the taxes. "

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Confused wrote on Jun 27, 2007 11:39 AM:

" First off, both sides seem to be so far apart. I, along with many other people have no idea in what to believe. Can somebody we all trust come forward and explain all of this to us. Do we need to be like the town of Randolph. Schools and facilities run down and being shut down. Fire departments that do not have the staff to get to fires on time. We all want our town to be the best. To make this happen, somebody needs a plan or we will have to pay for it in some way. "

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15yearresident wrote on Jun 27, 2007 11:10 AM:

" I am once again ashamed to say I live in Norton. It took a complete lack of common sense to vote no on the debt exclusion. "

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"OUR" wrote on Jun 27, 2007 11:00 AM:

" As I've said before, how come when someone talks about "our children" they want "my money". The town cannot prove that they can manage what they have. Buildings leaking a year after they're build and no one chases the contractor or architect? "

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help me, then I'll help you wrote on Jun 27, 2007 10:54 AM:

" The town doesn't help me when prices go up (gas, heat, electricity,etc.), then why should I help them when I'm just trying to make ends meet. I'm in need of a new roof on my house, perhaps the school committee could help me out....not. And by the way, I have two children in the school system. "

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Philanthropist wrote on Jun 27, 2007 10:42 AM:

" Fair to expect that all of the override supporters will be donating what would have been their tax increase to the town? The town needs to offer early retirement packages to some of the older teachers who are being overpaid in favor of moving towards younger teachers with more energy and a willingness to take a more reasonable salary. "

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A message to Statistics wrote on Jun 27, 2007 10:35 AM:

" Don't assume because we have expensive houses we wouldnt invest in our children because our taxes go up. That makes no sense. We voted for the override because we value our children and their future. We will continue to move this one and eventually it will pass. It just takes time for people to fully understand the sad state the schools are in. I am hoping we dont lose accreditation before my child graduates. I am definately leaving this town at that point because theres not much holding you here if you cant be proud of your school system. "

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person with >500k home wrote on Jun 27, 2007 10:29 AM:

" The first comment is incorrect. I voted for the override, moved to this town for the school 14 years ago and the school system at that time was significantly better than the one we are in now. Its a sad state of affairs when we dont invest in our children. Dont kid yourself, your home values will also take a hit because of a degradation in the school system. Nobody wins if we dont invest in the important things that make this town valuable. Schools should be the top priority, shame on those of you who would not invest in them. "

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Norton Parent wrote on Jun 27, 2007 10:26 AM:

" I beleave that one of main reasons the town voted down these propositions is the stong arm tactics the Town of Norton uses to get more money from the people. I've been trying to log on to the official Town website for weeks for info on the vote. I've been getting the "Website not found" error. I use my favorites link to sign on, so there were no typing errors. This morning I tried to log on the website and not to my surprize, there's the site, no website not found error. How could this be? The town did not want a big turn out on this vote. How stupid do they think the voters are? More money will not help Nortons school problems. A change in teachers and leadership is our only cure. My son went to Norton schools and had a horible experience and just passed with D's. I said "To Hell" with Norton schools and sent my daughter to Bristol Aggie and she graduated with high honors, and will be attending a top college. Norton schools are full of teachers who were teaching when I was in school. They've not been kept because they are good teachers,they've been kept because they can't be let go. Get rid of these "old school" teachers, vote in new leadership who can effectively run a budget and treat the towns people with respect and they will get their extra money. Until then the "vote NO' people will win every time. "

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COMMUNITY Member wrote on Jun 27, 2007 10:17 AM:

" Perhaps rather than just burdening the parents with increased fees relating to school activities, the town could institude a sliding fee schedule that all members of the community should incur? The community has a responsiblity to provide an education to the children in the community. Everyone Parent wants better for their children. Watching such a minimal increase in the school budget year-over-year that is not aligned with increases in the cost of living means that the current generation of elementary school children are unfairly burdened and their long term readiness as future members of the community will suffer. This is beyond simply stating NO proudly because Norton has never allowed and override. The debt exclusion vote made fiscal sense and was a solution to help the situation. Perhaps we should all pay extra fees for calling out Police, Fire or other town services that we use as members of the community. "

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BTS wrote on Jun 27, 2007 10:08 AM:

" Obviously you haven't been through previous threats to Norton Taxpayers about the schools. Our kids attended and graduated Norton schools. They went on to college...(scholarships too! Wowee!) Masters degrees inc. When they were in the middle schools, they threatened to CLOSE the schools down. Mad rush on some folks was to put the kids in private and parochial school. Read your "TOWN REPORT" see some of the salaries. T-Shirts and signs? They spent their money..not yours and the amt. spent would hardly make a dent in repairs to the schools!Do you think the high dropout rate is due to the budget? They threaten every so many years, hopinh that the voters that are paying attentention will not be there to vote. The ones celebrating in Stoneham are the ones that don't have to sell their homes because taxes got too high for them! "

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hindsight wrote on Jun 27, 2007 9:59 AM:

" I've said it before, communities have embraced the pay as you go. Keep the property taxes where they are. You want extra trash to be picked up, buy another town bag. The kids ride the bus to school, pay extra for that. They play sports, user fee. Why not pay for each student that enrolls into the school system. Remove the burden from those that do not use the service. The rally cry of those before us did not pay why should we is defended by the user fees, trash bags and bus fare. "

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j+b wrote on Jun 27, 2007 9:52 AM:

" Concerned Parent The Norton schools will not fall down. Why how can a mulrimillion $ building do that???? If the 2 1/2 override had passed....would you be living in Norton 10 years from now??? Probably NOT. Stoneham! Did you come to Norton from Stoneham? Do people know what your income must be to live in a nice home in Stoneham? Once you open the door to an override..it gets out of control. 15 yrs ago they threatened us with this closing of schools. The override is'nt going to cure the high dropout rate either. Our kids graduated NHS and went on to college. Right in the middle of one of the big battles over an override. They threatened to close the schools. Many sent their kids to private school at a high cost to themselves. Scare tactics. "

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Another Concerned Parent wrote on Jun 27, 2007 9:37 AM:

" Speak to me so that I believe you know what you are talking about and show me a well-thought out 5 year plan, and you probably would have received a "yes" vote from me. Answer me this... "Why did we not go after the builder the first year the middle school opened when it started leaking?" "Why do we spend $25K a year for someone to walk around and shut lights off?" "Why do we need to hire additional teachers to cover coordinator classrooms so they can sit and critique the way they teach?" "Why does Norton have so many special needs students?... is it just to get extra money from the state?" My understanding is that many (not all, who like our welfare system, who need it, but probably don't get what they need)are just too lazy to do the work and parents are too lazy to do their job. "

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Bad buildings wrote on Jun 27, 2007 9:29 AM:

" I think one of the problems with all the money wasted in education is with the buildings themselves. It seems that every few months you hear about some school department needing to come up with some money for roof repairs. Why is this. Do people not budget for maintenance? Are roof contractors ripping off everybody in the region? Can 't architects design decent roofs? - when I was in elementary school at the old Washington School and Lincoln School in the 1960's I don't ever remember complaints about the roofs. And I believe those buildings dated back 50 years. "

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Taxpayer wrote on Jun 27, 2007 9:19 AM:

" Concerned parent, It's not your money. If you don't like the community in which you live, MOVE. "

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noname wrote on Jun 27, 2007 9:16 AM:

" Nice job Norton. The pro prop override and debt exclusion advocates didn't convince you to keep shelling out more and more of your hard earned dollars maybe some of the town leaders will learn how to budget. If you ain't got it you can't spend it. The School board member who commented doesn't get it that's for sure. We are pretty sick of hearing it's for the children, it's for the children, when we know that's not the case and threaten us with lower property values DUH JUST GET CONTROL OF YOUR BUDGET "

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Statistics wrote on Jun 27, 2007 8:33 AM:

" I'll bet the people voting against it were primarily the ones who live in the $500K+ homes who don't want to pay even more in taxes. Older people in more modest homes don't mind paying for education. "

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Grandpa wrote on Jun 27, 2007 8:31 AM:

" Watch your spending. Don't buy what you can't afford. Save for emergencies. Sound familiar? "

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Concerned Parent wrote on Jun 27, 2007 8:20 AM:

" This is just disgusting to me. In the wake of all that is happening in Stoneham people are celebrating their "victory". Get ready for fees to come your way soon rather than an increase in taxes. Last year the school committee was accused of asking for too much money...this year it was questioned as to why they were asking for less. Can they do no wrong??? The debt exclusion override only made sense...you are still going to have to pay the money for the repairs needed...it will just come from other services...the school is already to the bare bones so other budgets need to start getting cut. When we come back next year...and we will...the vote "no" people really need to do themselves a favor...keep your mouths shut. We know that all the schools could fall down in the next year and you still wouldn't pay $25 a year to fix them. But when you open your mouths to start making your arguments you sound ridiculous. I have watched every program on the cable access channel and can't believe the way some people talk as though we are still living in the 1800's. How much money was spent on T-Shirts and signs...you could have done the WHOLE town a favor and put it towards your taxes. "

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