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Acton and Boxborough

Acton Beacon 2/27/08:  Boxborough Board Plans to avoid override.

Acton Beacon 1/16/08:  Boxborough faces potential deficit. Shortfall appears to be around $500,000

Acton Beacon 1/9/08:  5.6% budget hike for A-B and 8.1% growth in Acton schools.

Acton Beacon 12/20/07:  Preliminary budget set at $27.5 million, up about 6% from last year. 

Belmont

Belmont Citizen-Herald 3/11/08:  Selectmen miss deadline:  no overrides on ballot.  Deficit down to $1 million.  As the town continues to work on its budget, it may need a special election to vote an override.  In the meantime, they are looking at what cuts may need to be made.

Belmont Citizen-Herald 3/4/08:  Online poll finds some sort of operational override would pass.

Belmont Citizen-Herald 3/1/08:  No decisions during Saturday budget summit.  Though it is clear there will be a budget deficit in fiscal 2009, the exact amount was unknown that morning, making it difficult for the Board of Selectmen to agree to a proposed road repair override on the April election ballot. Selectmen await to learn from the School Committee whether they can get by without an override.

Belmont Citizen-Herald 2/20/08:  Narrowing the deficit, which currently stand at about $1.4 million.

Belmont Citizen-Herald 2/7/08:  Officials work at plugging the hole.

Belmont Citizen-Herald 1/22/08:  Multi-million dollar budget deficit looms.

Belmont Citizen-Herald  1/17/08: Belmont school budget up 7.5%

Belmont Citizen-Herald 12/6/07:  Going up?  Overrides, debt exclusions could raise taxes by 30%.  Preliminary numbers for next year’s operating budget show an anticipated deficit of $2.8 million, some of which could come from free cash.

Town of Belmont:  Warrant Committee notes project operating overrides in FY09, FY10 and FY11.

Brookline

Brookline Tab 3/19/08: Economy fears shadow Brookline override campaign.  "Do I worry about this? Quite a lot. In my heart, could I have chosen a worse time to do this ballot question? Probably not,” said Selectwoman Betsy DeWitt, co-chairwoman of Yes for Brookline, the pro-override group.  “But you can’t pick and choose when you need to do these things,” she said. “I believe our value system is very powerful, and I believe people want to keep this community the way they found it.”

Boston Globe 3/16/08:  Schools wrestle with share of cuts: class size, though valued, is at risk.

Brookline Tab 3/12/08:  Brookline voters to get $5.4 or 6.2 million override choices.  Selectmen approved Proposition 2 1/2 tax override ballot questions that would cover budget deficits, infrastructure maintenance, a longer school day and, if the larger amount were approved, a world language program at the elementary schools.

Brookline Tab 3/2/08:  Brookline selectmen override vote set for March 11.  If selectmen decide to put the $6.2 million package to voters, they would be voting to spend $2.1 million to cover town and school budget deficits; $1.5 million in infrastructure repairs; $1.8 million to lengthen the school day by 20 minutes; and $800,000 on a world languages program at the elementary schools.

January 2008:  Report of Town of Brookline Override Study Committee

Boston Globe 1/27/08:  Brookline may be facing $7 million in overrides

Concord & Carlisle

Concord's override history

Concord Journal 1/10/08:  Concord considering move to all-day Kindergarten.

Boston Globe 11/14/07:  Concord approves override for new elementary school.

Dover and Sherborn

Dover Sherborn Press 1/14/08:  Budget axed, health, sped aides debated, as budget is at 6.3% increase over the current year.

Dover-Sherborn Press 1/7/08: Police chief seeks $10,000 more

Dover-Sherborn Press 12/19/07: Schools seek more staff.

Framingham

Metrowest Daily News 3/26/08:  Framingham schools propose 91.4 million budget, a 10% increase over last year.

Metrowest Daily News 3/14/08:  The good news, school aid is increasing; the bad news, it may not be enough.  Even with a $3 million increase in Chapter 70 aid, a 22% increase over last year, Framingham is still about $3 million short of needed school revenues.

Boston Globe 3/16/08:  Framingham Schools holding out for 92.1 million

Metrowest Daily News 2/5/08:  Framingham schools eye $9.2 million increase, an 11% increase over the current year.

Framingham Tab 1/15/08: Finance officer predicts future deficits.

Boston Globe 1/13/08:  Officials keep close watch on school budget, after last year's $1.7 million deficit

Hopkinton

Hopkinton Crier 3/21/08:  Hopkinton official defends vote to block override vote.

Hopkinton Crier 3/20/08:  $400k override proposal rejected by selectmen in a 3-2 vote.

Metrowest Daily News 3/12/08: More Hopkinton school jobs in jeopardy.  After cutting 17 school positions last year, the town will have cut another 16 if there is no override.

Metrowest Daily News 3/8/08:  Selectmen could consider override.  With a shortfall currently at $1.3 million (and possible savings that could reduce it to $700k, selectmen consider whether to ask for an override and how much.

Hopkinton Crier 1/23/08:  Board votes for spending and hiring freeze.

Hopkinton Crier 1/18/08:  School choice eyed as money saver.

Hopkinton Crier 12/6/07:  Budget alterations considered.

Hopkinton Crier 12/5/07:  Hopkinton grapples with $2 million shortfall.

Hudson

Metrowest Daily News 3/26/08:  Hudson schools, town close budget gap.  The revised budget would see the town's share of school funding increase by 5.72 percent next year (compared with 6.2% requested by the schools and 4.5% desired by the town)

Metrowest Daily News 2/22/08:  No easy budget answers, as the Selectmen and School Committee try to agree on a budget.

Metrowest Daily News 1/24/08:  Projected budget gap reduced to $430,000

Boston Globe 1/17/08:  Town Faces $850,000 Budget Gap

Metrowest Daily News 1/14/08: Selectmen recommend school budget increase. but less than school officials hoped for.

Lexington

Lexington Minuteman 1/21/08:  Balanced budget comes into focus.  To avert an override this year, Lexington considers whether to dip into reserves or cut positions.  They are preparing for an override in FY10

Lexington Schools Budget Information:  recommend a 7.7% budget increase, including expanding services and eliminating the elementary school music fee

Lexington Minuteman 1/17/08:  No (municipal) override in sight.  With more state aid, and a $6.9 million increase in revenues, Lexington appears able to avoid an override.

Lincoln, Sudbury and Lincoln-Sudbury

Boston Globe 4/8/08:  Sudbury begins to cut.

Boston Globe 4/1/08:  Sudbury voters reject overrides.

Sudbury Town Crier 4/1/08:  Sudbury overrides defeated.  Both the larger (2.6 million) and smaller (1.8 million) override requests failed by substantial margins in yesterday's vote.

Sudbury Town Crier 3/25/08:  Where's the fat?  Officials say budget is lean.

Boston Globe 3/6/08:  3 options on taxes face voters: Sudbury voters will choose between a $2.8 million override, a $1.8 million override, or no override on their ballot in April

Sudbury Town Crier 1/30/08:  Official:  Level L-S Budget would require override.

Sudbury Town Crier 1/23/08:  Is there support for an override?

Lincoln Journal 1/17/08:  Lincoln may not require override.

Sudbury Town Crier 1/16/08: Sudbury K-8 district faces tough budget year. A non-override budget would require trimming $1.4 million from staff programs and services

Sudbury Town Crier 1/15/08:  Ritchie on the defensive, says: "We can't withdraw services for students"

Sudbury Town Crier 1/10/08:  L-S officials defend budget. a 4.8% increase over last year.

Lincoln Journal 1/9/08:  Schools aim to restore budget cuts, including retaining funding for full-day kindergarten.

Town of Sudbury 12/31/08:  Town of Sudbury Budget Package

Sudbury Town Crier 12/27/07:  L-S requests 4.8% increase.  Funding L-S at that request would require about a $1 million override.

Natick

Metrowest Daily News 3/28/08:  Natick offering override assistance to seniors, helping to ensure that residents can find the exemption, abatement and assistance programs that are available to them.

Metrowest Daily News 3/26/08:  Natick override passes by 10%.  With 47% voter turnout, the $3.9 million override passed with a 10% margin, 5356-4219.

Metrowest Daily News 3/16/08:  Natick faces 3.9 million override

Boston Globe 3/4/08:  Natick town officials make public pitch for $3.9 million override.

Metrowest Daily News 3/4/08:  Natick selectmen stress the need for an override.  If voters don't approve a $3.9 million override later this month, selectmen said last night, the result could be wholesale changes in virtually every aspect of the town's operation.

Metrowest Daily News 2/26/08:  Selectmen work to bridge gap.  If the proposed override fails, the schools, DPW and Park & Recreation will be among the hardest hit.  Among non-school cuts, DPW would lose more than 8 positions, and the staff at the Natick Organic Community Farm would be eliminated. 

Metrowest Daily News 2/5/08:  Salaries will consume Natick school budget increase, a 6.2% increase over the current year.

Natick Bulletin & Tab 1/30/08:  An override v. fee increases.  List of potential cuts that might be made if the override fails.

Metrowest Daily News 1/29/08:  $3.9 million override to be placed on Natick ballot.  Possible cuts are discussed by each department in this document.

Natick Bulletin & Tab 1/18/08: Natick now on track to build new high school.

Natick Bulletin & Tab 1/9/08:  Budget deficits expected over next two years in Natick.  With a budget shortfall of $2.8 million this year and $3.3 projected for next year, the Financial Planning Committee recommends a $5.5-6.5 million override for this year.

Natick Bulletin & Tab 1/9/08:  Natick school budget options presented, with $2.75 million in cuts presented, including middle school intramurals, but seek to maintain full-day kindergarten.

Town of Natick 1/7/08:  Town Administrator FY09 Budget Message

Boston Globe 12/7/07:  Natick schools face $3 million shortfall.

Metrowest Daily News 11/20/07:  Preliminary school budget doesn't address accreditation concerns.  Even with a 5% increase in the school budget, several items addressing accreditation concerns were not included.

Needham

Needham Times 2/21/08:  Needham finds money to fund most town requests.  The nearly balanced budget includes a 4.5% increase for the schools, far less than the 7.3% the schools initially sought.  As a result, the schools will lose 8.6 teaching positions, lose busing subsidies and will increase athletic fees.

Needham Times 1/30/08:  Needham's emergency services budgets get slashed.

Needham Times 1/30/08:  Needham town, school budgets clash.

Boston Globe 1/27/08:  Opening bid by schools sets up clash. as the schools seek a 7.3% increase over last year.  Needham has already passed two operating overrides and a debt exclusion override in the last two years.

Needham Times 1/16/08:  Schools face $1.6 million in cuts. The school's proposed budget was 7.3% higher than last year's.  On the chopping block are athletics, supplies, training and as many as 16 teachers.

Wellesley

Boston Globe 3/16/08:  Wellesley cuts to avoid override.

Boston Globe 3/6/08:  Brighter budget outlook emerges. Less than a month after raising the prospect of "draconian" cuts to rectify the largest shortfall in town history, Wellesley officials now say they can balance the budget without asking voters to approve a tax override.  With a debt exclusion override on the horizon for a new high school, officials did not want to ask for an operational override now.  The School Committee made $1 million in cuts, the town made $1 million in capital reductions and the town is banking on increased Chapter 70 aid.

Wellesley Townsman 2/29/08:  No override in Wellesley this year. The school committee will make $1.2 million in cuts, enabling the town to avoid in override this year.

Wellesley Townsman 2/14/08:  A tale of three school budgets: Wellesley grapples with retaining the character of their schools in the face of cuts.

Boston Globe 2/10/08:  Town readies big '09 cuts if no override. After passing overrides in six of the last seven years, Wellesley faces an override vote again in the spring.

Boston Globe 2/8/08:  Wellesley schools outline capital cost-cutting measures.

Wellesley Townsman 2/8/08:  Advisory hearing spotlights split views on school budget.

Boston Globe 1/20/08: Wellesley seeks cure for shortfall.

Wellesley Townsman 1/17/08:  Schools up 11%.  The School Committee has approved a budget that is up 11% from the prior year, more than double the increase recommended by the Advisory Committee. 

Wellesley Townsman 1/17/08:  $6 million override?

Boston Globe 1/13/08:  School Board urges 11% hike

Weston

Weston Town Crier 1/17/08:  Good news: no override expected.

Weston Town Crier 1/8/08:  First round of budget discussions for 2008-09 school year. Preliminary numbers indicate a 3.8% increase in school costs, which will fund an expansion of the Mandarin language program and a new drama program.