Westporters will likely be asked to do something they've only done twice in more than 30 years when they head to Financial Town Meeting in May — approve a budget override.

The select board will meet Tuesday to finalize Westport's 2023-24 school and municipal budget plan, and are expected to approve an override question for Town Meeting which would give the town the ability to pay for town services without running afoul of state law that limits the annual growth of the tax levy to 2 1/2 percent. Though it is unknown how much board members will seek, a citizens' group that has been studying Westport's budgetary issues for nearly a year believes the bare minimum should be $3 million.

"We have no choice, we've hit the wall," Albert Lees, a member of the private Westport Fiscal Stability Group, told the select board last Monday.

"I think it is important for the people of the town to understand ... that we are in a position right now where we have kicked the can down the road, we've patched up as much as we can, and we have no choice, at least as far as our committee sees. We need to go for an override of no less than $3 million, which will not serve the long term problem.The $3 million will keep us level funded for three or four years, maybe five if we're lucky."

Deep cuts

Officials estimate that this year's budget deficit will be $1.3 to $1.5 million, and group members predicted there will be "more pain" this coming year if an override does not pass. They note that in the current budget plan, employees in the fire department, building official's office, animal control office, highway department, library and nurse staff will be impacted either by leaving vacant positions unfilled, or reducing staff. Meanwhile, the budget postpones critical capital purchases and maintenance, significantly reduces overtime, keeps salary growth lagging behind inflation, will lead to larger classes and the laying off of 15 to 19 teachers and aides, cuts school services and curriculum offerings, and more.

"We could go on for hours and hours and hours about what we have lost in this current budget because of funding, and what we'll lose," Lees said.

Proposition 2 1/2

Group members believe passing an override will allow Westport to start digging itself out from the constraints of Proposition 2 1/2, which became state law in 1982 and limits annual increases in a town’s property tax levy to 2 ½ percent, plus new growth.

"The effect of the legislation has been to impose constraints on local tax revenues so that the revenue needs of town governments are not available to meet its necessary expenses," the group wrote in its 22-page report.

Westporters, many of whom pride themselves on having one of the lowest tax rates in the state, have turned down 17 of the 19 overrides proposed since 1990. But the law provides an escape valve in the form of an override, in which voters by a simple majority can approve increases of more than 2 ½ percent for specific purposes.

Though the group wrote that while the law "was never intended to gut town and school services," it surely has.

"We have one building inspector, we have to fight to pay the clerk, we have to fight to get any assistance," group member Betty Slade said. "If we don't do something about it, we're going to find people leaving Westport because they aren't well paid. There are so many things ... we just can't pay for."

"We've been 'bandaiding' things for a long time," board chairwoman Shana Shufelt added. "I told people last year: 'Do you want a library? Do you want a council on aging? Do you want a recreation department? Do you want a transfer station?' Because we're not far away from having to get rid of anything optional."

Low taxes at what cost?

Westport's average yearly tax bill is $2,300 less than the state average, and the state department of revenue has estimated that the estimated annual tax impact if an override passes would be $330 for the average homeowner, increasing the tax rate from $8.16 per $1,000 valuation to $8.83.

And while Brown said she understands the financial difficulties that might present for some residents, such an increase would be doable for a large percentage of Westport's population, if they'd only agree to it.

"People for some reason like to take some kind of pride in being one of the lowest taxed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We're in the bottom 10 percent — I don't think that's anything to be proud of. You should be investing in your community so that you can be proud of the services that we have, not those that we don't. That's not a badge of honor — that's just a badge of cheapness."

What's next?

Assuming the select board approves an override warrant article this coming Tuesday, the process by which it would be voted on is as follows:

• On March 6, it and all other financial warrant articles would be completed.

• On May 2, voters will be asked to include an article to supplement the budget contingent on the override's passage.

• Finally, between May and September, the town would hold a special election to approve the override.

• To read the report of the Fiscal Stability Group, see www.eastbayri.com.