Select Board Recommends $3.6 Million Override Ask

In this report: Key decisions · Next dates · Full report · Sources

What happened

The Abington Select Board voted unanimously to recommend $3,625,439 in override funding across seven ballot questions for the May 16 special election. Without the override, the town would lose six police patrol officers, cut fire department funding by $275,514, and eliminate roughly 30 school positions. The board also approved a $808,079.52 capital plan and $1.6 million in borrowing for DPW and fire facility soil remediation.

Key decisions

• 💰 $3,625,439 FY27 override seven questions. The board voted unanimously to recommend seven override ballot questions totaling $3,625,439 for the May 16 special election, needed to maintain level service as unrestricted local aid rises only about 1.1 percent and local receipts fall roughly 18.5 percent. (Vote Approved unanimously; Next: May 16). Read case details
• 💰 FY27 level-funded budget. The board approved the Town Manager's FY27 level-funded budget with total budget request across all categories at $81,286,848, driven mostly by the annual 2 percent property tax levy increase. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 💰 Capital plan and soil remediation. The board approved a FY27 capital budget plan of $808,079.52 and authorized $1.6 million in borrowing for soil remediation at the new DPW and fire facility site. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 📜 Right to Farm bylaw. The board voted to place a Right to Farm bylaw on the Town Meeting warrant. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 💰 SSRVT FY27 assessment. The board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School District's FY27 assessment of $1,296,917. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 📜 Pembroke admission to SSRVT. The board voted unanimously to support Pembroke's admission to the South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School District. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• ● Island Grove Pond land acceptance. The board voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on a warrant article accepting land near Island Grove Pond. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 📜 Veterans' tax exemption. The board voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on a veterans' tax exemption warrant article. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 💰 School transportation funding. The board voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on school out-of-district transportation funding of $19,902. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 📜 Community Preservation Committee articles. The board voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on Community Preservation Committee warrant articles. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 👤 Hearing officer for eminent domain. The board voted unanimously to appoint the Town Manager as hearing officer for Hancock Street eminent domain takings. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 📜 Town investment policy. The board voted unanimously to approve the town's investment policy. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• ● St. Patrick's Day Parade rescission. The board voted unanimously to rescind its March 15 authorization for the St. Patrick's Day Parade because of snow accumulation, asking organizers to reschedule for April. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 💰 $25,000 grant seed-money warrant. The board voted unanimously to recommend unfavorable action on a $25,000 grant seed-money warrant article (Article 9). (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 💰 Health Imperative funding warrant. The board voted unanimously to recommend unfavorable action on a Health Imperative funding warrant article (Article 10). (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 💰 Arc of the South Shore funding. The board voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on $2,500 in funding for Arc of the South Shore. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 💰 Parade overtime/details warrant article. The board voted unanimously to recommend unfavorable action on a St. Patrick's Day Parade overtime/details warrant article. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 📜 Planning Board-related warrant articles. The board deferred Planning Board-related warrant articles and referred them to the Planning Board. Read case details
• 👤 Board of Health vacancy notification. The board voted unanimously to notify the Town Clerk of a Board of Health vacancy. (Vote Approved unanimously; Next: March 9). Read case details
• 👤 Board of Health appointment. The decision to fill the Board of Health vacancy was continued pending the March 9 candidate filing deadline. (Next: March 9). Read case details
• ● Gordon Circle road acceptance petition. The board voted unanimously to refer a Gordon Circle road acceptance petition to the Planning Board for recommendation. (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details
• 📋 Route 123 Auto Brokers license amendment. The board voted unanimously to amend the prior license for Route 123 Auto Brokers at 256 Brockton Ave. to reflect 37 vehicles for sale, five for repair, three employee spaces and three customer spaces (48 total). (Vote Approved unanimously). Read case details

Next dates

• March 9: Board of Health candidate filing deadline
• May 16: May 16 special election override vote

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Full meeting report

The complete, section-by-section account of the meeting, 1,185 words, for members.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.