SAVE OUR SCHOOLS

Save Our Schools (SOS)

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Vote for our schools at the May 5th, 2025 in-person town meeting (must be present to vote)

 

DATES

Monday, May 5, 2025

Norwell Town Meeting at 6:30pm until late:

In-Person Vote on the ballot will be conducted and it must pass with a majority vote. A revote can be called at the end of the meeting so staying until the end is essential. If it passes at the May 5th Town Meeting, a ballot vote will be held on Saturday, May 17 from 6:00am - 8:00pm at the Norwell Middle School and must pass with a majority vote.

 

 

FAQ

Key Question

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How much will this cost me personally?

What is the expected tax increase for the average homeowner? The expected impact to taxpayers if the override passes - here is a sample of home values and annual property tax increases (the average home value in Norwell is $1,020,000) :$550,000 - $479/yr

$1,050,000 - $914/yr

$1,550,000 - $1,349/yr

To find out the impact to your Property Taxes, check out the Town Calculator here: Norwell MA ARC GIS MAP

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FAQ’S ABOUT THE NORWELL OVERRIDE

1. What is an override?

An override is a voter-approved measure allowing a town to permanently increase property taxes beyond the annual limits set by Proposition 2½. Proposition 2½ caps annual property tax increases at 2.5% plus new growth unless voters specifically approve additional funding. Norwell is facing a critical financial challenge, and the upcoming $3.7 million override is necessary to maintain essential services while keeping the town financially stable. The Town Administration and Select Board have transparently communicated that an override was coming in FY2026 (last one was 12 yrs ago), but this is a perfect storm of very high inflation (healthcare & pensions specifically) and the previously identified need for an override. This proposal represents a thoughtful approach to maintaining service levels and fiscal stability, even amid challenging economic conditions.

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2. Why do we need this when our taxes are already so high?

While no one wants higher taxes, the override is needed because current revenues are insufficient to cover increasing costs related to education, public safety, infrastructure, and general inflation. Proposition 2½ restricts Norwell’s revenue growth to 2.5% per year, but costs have risen faster than revenue, creating a budget shortfall. Specifically, Norwell’s financial gap has widened due to:

• Mandated pension funding by 2031

• Higher costs for education – Ensuring quality education, small class sizes, and competitive salaries for teachers.

• Public safety investments, maintaining staffing levels and resources for fire and police.

• Infrastructure maintenance, requiring ongoing investment in roads, facilities, and equipment.

• General inflation increasing the cost of goods, services, and employee benefits.

The override ensures continued funding for these essential services.

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3. This is obviously a result of poor spending decisions…can’t you just cut fluff?

The town has actively managed expenses and implemented conservative budgeting practices. The current financial situation is primarily due to fixed and mandated costs rather than discretionary spending. The town administrator, Select Board, and Advisory Board continually seek opportunities to improve efficiency while delivering high-quality services to residents. This includes frequent contract negotiations with external vendors and employee unions to ensure cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency. Norwell’s financial statements are publicly available on the town’s website: Norwell Financial Statements.

These documents show that the town has consistently increased its net assets year over year while maintaining a AAA bond rating, the highest level of financial solvency. This rating reflects the town’s strong fiscal management, allowing Norwell to strategically use free cash for capital projects instead of relying on borrowing—an approach many surrounding towns have not been able to take. The Advisory Board, composed of town volunteers, plays a key role in reviewing historical financial data versus the proposed budget. Their responsibilities include identifying potential cost savings and operational efficiencies. For those who want to influence the town’s financial decisions, there is currently an open seat on the Advisory Board—a great opportunity to get directly involved. The Town Administrator has emphasized during several Select and Advisory Boards that the town budget is very tight, there is no fat anywhere.

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4. Why are the Schools adding positions when we are asking for an override?

Norwell Public Schools recently presented their proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget. You can view the detailed presentation here: Budget Presentation

Key points of the $2.45M budget increase for the Schools include:

• Contractually obligated salary increases.

• A 10% increase in bus transportation contracts.

• Historically funded free cash items (Technology & Out-of-District Special Education) now integrated into the operational budget.

• Utility expenses rising by 57%.General inflation impacting supplies, travel, and other non-labor expenses.

• Additional positions proposed for FY’26: Districtwide 5th Nurse (1.0 FTE): Ensures compliance with Massachusetts Department of Public Health recommendations and addresses student health needs.

• Assistant Special Education Director (1.0 FTE): Supports oversight and compliance for special education programs.

• High School Transition Room Aide/Math Tutor restructuring: Incorporates support for student transitions and math proficiency into the primary budget.

While new positions are being requested during a year with an override, the School Committee has communicated clearly that this was the year that positions were going to be requested as part of the previously identified override, and concessions on several proposed positions have already been made. Notably, Norwell Public Schools spend less per pupil compared to similar school districts (slides 60-62). This all while achieving excellent academic standards. Norwell is ranked 21st in the state for the high school: Norwell High School Ranking

This is a testament to the academic leadership and financial responsibility shown to the residents.

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5. What is the town doing to expand the commercial tax base and reduce the tax burden on residents?

Norwell has undertaken several initiatives to enhance its commercial tax base:

Economic Development Plans: The town collaborated with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to create an Economic Growth Plan. This plan focuses on expanding the commercial and industrial tax base, accommodating new housing, and addressing infrastructure constraints, particularly in areas like the Assinippi and Accord industrial parks. Zoning and Infrastructure Improvements: Recommendations from the Economic Growth Plan include adopting zoning reforms to encourage mixed-use development and improving infrastructure to support higher-density commercial activities. While these efforts have been made it is important to note that the commercial tax base has decreased from 15% to now below 12%.

 

6. Norwell teachers are the highest paid in the region. Why can’t their salaries be adjusted to lower costs?

Adjusting teacher salaries is a complex issue: Contractual Obligations: Teacher salaries are typically determined through collective bargaining agreements between the school district and teachers’ unions. These contracts outline salary structures and are legally binding for their duration. Competitive Compensation: Offering competitive salaries is essential to attract and retain qualified educators, ensuring the quality of education for students. School & Union contact negotiations are due to conclude by June 30, 2025. The town administration is leading this charge.

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7. What happens if the override fails? What specific cuts will be made, and how will each school be affected?

If the proposed tax override fails, Norwell will face significant budget shortfalls, forcing difficult and substantial cuts. Specifically, the school district faces a projected shortfall of approximately $3.7 million for the upcoming fiscal year. Without override approval, these cuts would directly impact:

• Teachers and Staff: Significant layoffs would be inevitable, increasing class sizes across all schools. For perspective, neighboring towns like Braintree had to eliminate 33 teaching positions following an override failure (WGBH). Similarly, towns like Hanover, due to repeated budget constraints, now have student-teacher ratios ranking in the bottom 15% statewide.

• Academic Programs and Resources: Cuts would extend to essential educational programs, technology enhancements, athletics, extracurricular activities, and classroom supplies, dramatically impacting the quality of education and student experience.

• Moreover, this isn't solely a school issue—critical town services will also face reductions:

• Emergency Services: Emergency responses have surged dramatically from an average of 331 calls per year (2015-2021) to 921 calls annually (2022-2024). This sharp increase, coupled with additional senior housing developments, underscores the urgent need to sustain robust emergency services.

• Police, Fire, and Highway Departments: These vital community resources would see reduced operational capacities, impacting overall safety and infrastructure maintenance.

 

Norwell's recent growth, including a 7% population increase and a 76% rise in home values since 2015, is directly attributable to our excellent schools, reliable public safety, and strong community culture. Supporting the override preserves these core strengths, ensuring we continue to offer the high-quality education and vital town services that our residents value and expect.

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8. Will this override improve education and services, or just maintain the status quo?

The primary goal of the proposed override is to maintain current service levels:

• Maintaining Services: The override aims to address rising costs in areas such as health insurance, pensions, and special education, thereby preserving existing educational programs and services.

• Avoiding Cuts: Without the override, the town may need to implement cuts to various services, including those in education, to balance the budget.

 

9. How can we need $3 million but found $2 million to repair the boardwalk?

It is important to note that the override is for recurring expenditures, not one-time capital requests. The boardwalk project is a one-time capital request and is not factored into the $3.7M override request; this would either impact free cash or CPC funds. Each year, the Community Preservation Commission (CPC) receives funding from multiple sources and rolls over/preserves extra. These are for a specific purpose; not 'just town funds' or easily transferred. In terms of allocation, this funding is restricted to projects that -preserve- or update (historical) community properties within Norwell. The CPC carefully vets proposed expenditures to make sure they meet these criteria (community + preservation). They use this bucket to fund grants proposals aimed at preserving the town, which any resident/constituent may apply for. In regards to the boardwalk specifically, the proposal was received and judged to meet the -community preservation- criteria. The CPC approved it so that the project would be submitted to the town advisory board for review and then pushed to town meetings so that the TOWN could choose whether or not to move forward with the project. They chose to let the town decide on (rather than summarily reject) a project that could have wide-ranging implications on a heavily trafficked town byway. In terms of cost, the $3 million figure provided was an initial estimate provided by the applicant for the sake of the proposal.

 

10. Why are the overrides for the town and school combined? Shouldn’t they be separate?

The override for the town and school are combined because separating them would not accurately reflect Norwell’s integrated financial structure. Major expenses such as pensions and healthcare are managed at the town level and directly benefit both the town and schools. Additionally, rising costs for education, mandated pension funding, health insurance, infrastructure maintenance, and inflation collectively contribute to the current financial shortfall. Combining these overrides provides a clear, comprehensive view of Norwell’s overall budgetary needs. While there is a perception that separating these overrides might benefit either the town or schools individually, the reality is that town services, including pensions and healthcare, significantly support the schools. Addressing these financial challenges as a unified community ensures essential services can be maintained effectively and transparently.

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​​​Please send any questions to ColePTONews@gmail.com and we will get back to you.