Cheshire Sets Informational Meetings on Override
 The town and school officials are hosting two informational meetings on the upcoming override vote. Residents are encouraged to attend Thursday's meeting at the Cheshire Elementary School. |
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Two informational meetings about the upcoming Proposition 2 1/2 override vote will take place this Thursday, July 23, and Monday, July 27.
Both meetings will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Cheshire Elementary School cafeteria. The forums are for the public to ask town and Adams-Cheshire Regional School District officials about the school budget and consequences of a rejected override.
The initial $19 million school budget, which was contingent on a $90,000 override in Cheshire, was overwhelmingly passed by town meeting in June. However, the override that would fund the town's portion of the budget was shot down with only 18 percent of registered voters going to the polls.
School officials felt the low turnout did not represent the actual intention of the town and was triggered by confusion over the budget process.
The school officials asked the Selectmen to hold another override vote Wednesday, Aug. 5, and these two meetings aim to inform the people of Cheshire and encourage them to vote.
If Cheshire does not endorse the budget, it is possible for it to go to a districtwide vote that would include all voters in Cheshire and Adams. If the budget is accepted in the district vote, then Cheshire must find the $90,000 in its town budget.
The Cheshire selectmen have expressed concern over this because without an override, they say there is nowhere to cut in the already tight budget. They will discuss this at the budget meetings.
If the school budget ultimately fails, the district will be looking at a total $350,000 in cuts, which school officials say will dismantle the district and result in substantial staffing cuts. School officials will explain these consequences in greater detail at the meetings.
Town officials said they will explain how the $90,000 will actually affect the tax rate and will compare the tax rate to surrounding communities. Based on a median home value at about $200,000, the average increase would be around $60 a year.
Two meetings are being held in case people are unable to make the Thursday one. Both meetings will provide the same information.
Tags: ACRSD, override, school budget,
