NORFOLK - Local school representatives are so concerned with the impact if voters Nov. 4 support the repeal of the state income tax, school committee members this past week held a public hearing on the ballot question.

There has been much debate within Massachusetts cities and towns over the referendum, and that was evident at the hearing as both sides presented their cases.

A "yes" vote would eliminate $12.6 billion of the commonwealth's budget, and with it, a chunk of the state's "fiscal irresponsibility," according to Rich Aucoin, from the Committee for Small Government. This cut represents 27 percent of the state budget, returning an average of $3,700 to Massachusetts' taxpayers.

"It will be a breath of life into the state of Massachusetts' economy," said Aucoin. "People will consider that money theirs on Nov. 5 and go out and spend it," putting it back into the state economy.

The numbers and economy resuscitation are highly contested, however. Holly Merritt, a teacher at Olive Day School, contended people will not spend that money because their property taxes will soar as a result of state cuts to cities and towns. Merritt also said most people would not get that much back; people would only get back what they put in. Ellen Horton, a teacher at Freeman-Centennial School, said 40 percent of state money comes from income taxes, citing two Web sites against Question 1: www.masstaxpayers.org and votenoquestion1.com.

Based on town data, Horton estimated a Yes vote will mean a 60 percent cut in Norfolk's state funding. Already, the state cut the prison mitigation fund last week, said Merritt, who is afraid the state will hit Norfolk harder, since it is one of the commonwealth's wealthiest towns.

The school district would lose approximately $1.3 million in state funds, causing a reduction in staff, programs and supplies; this cut would also demand larger class sizes to keep up with budget cuts, opponents of the question said.

Additionally, the town would have to reconcile an estimated $477,416 loss, according to Town Administrator Jack Hathaway, forcing cuts across all town services, including public safety and public works.

"There is waste in every government budget, on every level," Aucoin said.

Whether the state and local budgets can be used more efficiently or property taxes will rise exponentially remains uncertain, but "that is my concern: we're going to be the ones who feel it," said Horton. "We will be the ones who suffer."