Ashby opts to re-vote on override

By Katina Caraganis

MediaNews

ASHBY -- Ashby voters will again decide whether they can support a Proposition 2 1/2 override at a ballot election Aug. 28, after the funding source received Town Meeting support Tuesday night.

Pepperell gave the same approval Monday night.

The School Committee voted 6-1 earlier this summer to approve a budget that is $1,994,291 less than the district's needs budget, and contains $200,000 from the district's excess and deficiency account.

If approved, residents in Ashby can expect to see an average increase to their tax bills of $120 annually.

Some voters expressed concern about the override, saying they could not afford the permanent tax increase because they are on limited incomes.

Lillian Whitney proposed transferring the total amount request, $159,439.67 from the more than $600,000 in the stabilization fund.

"That money is there for a reason. I think we should be able to use it for this instead of raising taxes permanently," she said.

But Selectman Mike McCallum cautioned against using money from the stabilization fund, saying it should be used in case of emergency, and there may be more pressing things down the road.

Many parents expressed support for the article, which passed 87-32, saying their tax dollars paid for students years ago to get an education and residents now should be paying it forward as other parents did.

Voters also approved a warrant article that specified