The Full Council met as a Committee of the Whole and voted to approve (22-0, Gentile and Noel absent) the override-related items proposed by the Mayor (see Report and watch video on NewTV).
- Shall the City of Newton be allowed to assess an additional $9,175,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of funding Public Schools for student needs, street and sidewalk paving and safety improvements, tree planting and maintenance, park and recreational facility improvements and maintenance, improvements to Horace Mann Elementary School, sustainability and climate resiliency actions, and Senior Services programming and operations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023? (see Draft Council Order)
- Shall the City of Newton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition 2 1/2, so called, the amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to renovate or replace the Countryside Elementary School?
- Shall the City of Newton be allowed to exempt from the provisions of Proposition 2 1/2, so called, them amounts required to pay for the bonds issued in order to renovate or replace the Franklin Elementary School?
- Request to call a special election to present the levy limit override and debt exclusion ballot questions to the voters and set a date of March 14, 2023 for such special election.
- Request to appropriate from Budget Reserve the sum of two hundred and ten thousand dollars ($210,000) for the purpose of funding the costs of a special election to present the levy limit override and debt exclusion ballot questions to the voters.
- Request to amend City Ordinance Sec. 27-10 increasing the income limit of the tax deferral program to match the current maximum allowable circuit breaker amount of $93,000 for the local M.G.L c. 59 sec. 5cl. 41A tax deferral program (see Draft Council Order).
- Request to accept Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5C1/2 and provide an additional exemption up to 100 percent of the personal exemption, to be effective for exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2023. This will double the current level of tax assistance that the City of Newton provides to eligible residents (including certain blind persons, veterans, surviving spouses and seniors) with these programs. A 100 percent increase is the maximum additional exemption permitted under Section 5C1/2 (see Draft Council Order)
- Request for Home Rule legislation allowing the City to increase the maximum real property tax reductions for certain programs authorized under M.G.L c. 59 beyond that amount currently allowed by the state. This will double the assistance available to eligible City of Newton residents (Seniors and veterans in exchange for volunteer services) (see Draft Council Order).
The Council voted No Action Necessary on a previous docket item as it was replaced by two other items listed above:
- Request for Home Rule legislation allowing the City to increase the maximum real property tax exemptions and reductions for certain programs authorized under M.G.L c. 59 beyond that amount currently allowed by the state.
