NORTON - The Norton teachers' union has asked the school committee to publicly oppose a state ballot question repealing the Massachusetts income tax.

Chairman Thomas Golota said the school board would not vote a position on Question 1 before discussing the issue.

However, he added, "We probably know more than other people in town" about providing services amid "a lack of funding. We hear you."

Norton Teachers Association members said state revenues would drop 20 percent on Jan. 1, 2009, and 40 percent on Jan. 1, 2010, if voters pass the measure.

The question is proposed by the Committee for Small Government, and will appear on the Nov. 4 state ballot. Under the measure, the state income tax would be cut in half on Jan. 1, 2009, and would be eliminated on Jan. 1, 2010.

The initiative's supporters say repealing the income tax will "take $12 billion out of the hands of big government - and put it back into the hands of the men and women who earned it," according to the Committee for Small Government's Web site.

More than 3.4 million workers in Massachusetts would save more than $3,700 each, the group says.

However, Norton teachers union President Kathi Stejakoski said town services would be affected across the board. "It would be devastating to the town of Norton," she said.

MICHAEL GELBWASSER can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.