Last modified: Monday, September 29, 2008 4:53 PM EDT GOUVEIA: Overrides, Norton and neighbors The Town of Norton is unique in many ways, but what perhaps stands out most is this community has never approved an override or debt exclusion in the more than 25 years since Proposition 21/2 became law. That's never - none - nada - zippo. It is the only town in the Sun Chronicle area (without a major mall) to hold that distinction. For 25 years the town has faithfully lived within the limits of Prop 21/2. During that time it has built a middle school, a police station, and renovated old school buildings. The population has swelled and the demand for services greatly increased. Yet never has Norton assessed the property taxpayers more than the allowable 21/2 percent on the levy limit. But if you think the good folks in Norton are happy with their government's performance - try again. Like everywhere else, much of the citizenry believes their government spends too much, spends unwisely, and in general has failed to address the real needs of its people. Yet when you compare the override history of Norton with surrounding communities, it is difficult to understand how Norton is even still operating given its limited financial means over the last quarter century. There are three towns (and two cities) that border Norton - Mansfield, Easton and Rehoboth. Some argue all these towns share is in fact a border. But while their demographics and other factors are admittedly different, let's compare their override history. According to the Department of Revenue, since 1983 Rehoboth has passed four overrides, all debt exclusions. Easton, generally considered to be a more affluent town, has approved three general overrides and 14 debt exclusions. And Mansfield, despite its stronger industrial tax base, has passed two general overrides and 13 debt exclusion questions since Prop 21/2 began. Go beyond the immediate borders and the comparisons are still striking. Wrentham has passed seven debt exclusion questions. Foxboro has approved nine debt exclusions, and Norfolk leads the area, having voted 29 successful debt exclusion questions to go with a dozen general overrides. Now, this does not mean Norton should go out and pass an override simply because most other towns have done so. My mother always asked, "If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?" No I wouldn't. But I might try and understand why they were jumping off the bridge. Norton is a town with serious needs in public safety. It has infrastructure problems, with buildings that need repair and maintenance that has been let go for decades. It lags way behind most other towns in technology and the ability to serve the growing needs of a more sophisticated citizenry. Norton schools are facing serious issues. The budget has been slashed, fees have been introduced for almost everything including riding the bus, and class size continues to rise in the lower grades. Yet the town's per pupil expenditure for education is among the lowest in the entire state. The standard opinion in Norton is the town should live within the limits of Proposition 21/2 - period. End of discussion. As one local activist succinctly puts it, "I'll let them squander that much of our money, but not a dime more." Nobody likes overrides. Nobody enjoys paying more taxes. In the current economy, the very thought sends shivers down the spines of hard-working taxpayers. But Norton has reached a turning point. The town and its people have some important decisions to make in the near future. Those decisions will affect Norton not just now, but for the next decade or two to come. When you look at the big picture over the last 25 years, Norton has done a tremendous job of living within its fiscal restraints. Yet it gets no credit for that fiscal responsibility. Mansfield has passed 13 debt exclusions, and Norfolk has approved 29 separate questions. It is not unreasonable to believe Norton might finally need to pass one or two. There is never a good time for an override. In Norton, there never has been. But if it is to continue to be a good place to live and raise a family, that time may have finally come. BILL GOUVEIA is a local columnist, a longtime town official and a lifelong resident of Norton. His column appears every Saturday, and he can be reached at aninsidelook@aol.com.