Election Results for Debt Exclusion

by Glenn C. Koenig, webmaster for Town Wide Mall

Maynard, MA - Over 1800 voters turned out for the special election yesterday, to cast their ballots on a single question:  Shall Town Government borrow the money to replace the Green Meadow Elementary School with a brand new building and increase property taxes for the next 30 years?

The measure passed, 1504 to 329.  Although this is just about 25% of the approximately 7,500 registered voters in town, this is a relatively strong turn out for a local election.

Some residents may have had trouble finding the official results on the town's web site.  I spoke with the Town Clerk, Dianne Reardon, this morning and she guided me to the link on the town's home page.  She explained that there was trouble accessing the internet from the school last night after the polls closed, so she was only able to set up one place to click on the town's home page, as of this morning.  Until a few moments ago, it was third down from the top of the "Latest News" column.
To make things easier, here is the link to the official results:
https://www.townofmaynard-ma.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=137
You may have to scroll down a little on that page to see the chart showing the results from each precinct and the totals in the right hand column.

Just before 6 PM, voters were seen waiting in line to get into the Fowler School, where voting took place.

Town Clerk Dianne Reardon looks up voters by name and directs each one to the correct precinct.

With only one question to mark on the ballot, voting was quick, so finding an open voting booth was easy!

The vote does two things.  First, it authorizes the town to borrow the money by selling bonds on the bond market (known as a "bond issue"), in order to raise the funds to build the school as soon as possible.  Second, it approves the paying back of the bonds, with interest, over the next 30 years by increasing property taxes above the normal 2.5% annual tax increase limit, as imposed on cities and towns by state law.
This is known as a "debt exclusion" because this tax increase is "excluded" from the normal annual tax limit, allowing taxes to be raised more than the usual amount.  Only certain types of expenses., such as the incurring of debt to build buildings, can qualify for such over-limit tax increases, under state law.  Each such exclusion must be approved by voters in a general election before it can take effect.

Comment

Although this measure is now approved, there are many steps ahead in completing the design, getting the proper permits, and working out other details before construction can actually start.  I encourage everyone to keep an eye out for updates, additional information, and future meetings, in order to stay on top of the process, as much as possible.  Democracy does not end at the ballot box, it is an ongoing process where citizens and goverment must work together to achieve the best outcomes.
I will do my best to provide occasional updates in this news feed, here on Town Wide Mall.