The committee advocating to pass the $3 million override in Westport will hold an open public forum on July 11, 2023, from 7-9 pm at the Westport Middle-High School, 400 Old County Road. The public is invited. Yard signs will be available at the forum as well.

At the forum, Select Board member Shana Shufelt and Finance Committee member Lawrence Holsworth will make short presentations about the need for an override. Those attending will be able to submit questions at the forum for discussion and information. Town resident Breck Arnzen will moderate. The presentation will also be taped for distribution.

The Town of Westport is asking for a Proposition 2 1/2 override to address a long-standing structural deficit; where revenue, generated mostly by property taxes, has not kept up with rising costs and inflation. Only $1 million of the proposed override will be used in next fiscal year, as the voters in May's Town Meeting approved $1 million over a balanced budget and approved expenses to fill vacant public safety positions, additional support for the schools to cover a deficit in their budget, support for the Council on Aging, and additional town services in information technology and  building inspection. 

Proposition 2 1/2 is a Massachusetts law that limits raising the local tax levy by any more than 2 1/2 percent without voter approval. The special election on July 25 gives voters a chance to weigh in on the proposal. The $1 million to be applied to next year's budget is projected to raise property taxes by an average of $108, based on the $550,000 average value of a Westport home.  

The Override Ballot Question Committee, a political organization of Westport residents, is working to help Westport residents understand the override as well as the trouble ahead if the override fails.

Learn about the override on the Town of Westport's website. Voters can also find information about the override here, and engage in discussion on the Facebook page. 

Sally Cameron

Westport