Newton Mayor Fuller says if the property tax override is not passed, then students will suffer because teaching positions will be cut. This feels a lot like extortion being used against the parents of Newton. The mayor has spent money on pet projects such as the unusable “Hello Newtonville” study (at a cost of $500,000), moving the Early Childhood Center from Walnut Street to Washington Street (at a cost of $13 million). In addition, choosing to renovate two schools at the same time, which was opposed by the State advisory board, means that Newton will lose $30 million in state funding.
Though the mayor claims “Schools are the core of our city,” not a dime of this override would go to teachers, but rather to administrators and buildings. The mayor claims “it’s been 10 years” since the last override as if goosing our tax rate is now inevitable.
This doesn’t add up. The City’s revenues have gone up exponentially over the past ten years yet there has been no budget or priorities set for managing our taxes cost-effectively.
The mayor needs a better plan, a better budget, and priorities that reflect the values of our residents. Newton’s residents deserve no less. Vote NO on March 14th.
Henry Barbaro