By Paul Leighton
BEVERLY — With the city on the brink of a historic special election, the two sides in the debate over a Proposition 21/2 override met for the first and final time last night.
In front of about 100 people at the Senior Center, representatives of Yes! for Beverly and Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility squared off in a forum to discuss the controversial ballot question facing voters on Tuesday.
Override supporters Tracey Armstrong and Joan Sullivan said residents need to pull together to preserve the quality of the schools and avoid a drop in property values, while opponents Elliott Margolis and Gail Burke said beleaguered taxpayers simply can't afford another penny.
"When we pool our money, there's power in that," Armstrong said. "Is public education a priority enough for us to pool our money?"
"We already do pool our money," Burke responded. "$50 million for 4,400 students. I think that's enough."
Residents will vote Tuesday on a $2.5 million property tax override designed to help the school system, which is planning to close McKeown Elementary School, lay off teachers and spread all of the city's elementary school students among the five remaining schools. It will be the city's first override election since the tax-limiting Proposition 21/2 law came about in 1981.
As the crowd filed into the Senior Center, about 20 people stood outside holding "Vote No" and "Vote Yes" signs. The forum, sponsored by The Salem News and BevCam, was a mostly civil affair, with the audience applauding both citizens groups for their work over the last few weeks.
Burke, however, did accuse override supporters of stealing "Vote No" lawn signs and shouting obscenities at her group during the campaigning. She also said people against the override were being portrayed as selfish.
"I think it's unfair to make people feel guilty if they don't vote for an override," Burke said.
Armstrong said no one should feel guilty if they are opposed to the override, which would cost the owner of a $450,000 home an extra $185 every year in property taxes. She said she understood the plight of people on fixed incomes, but also said the average income in the city is $70,000 per year.
"Education isn't a cost, it's an investment," Sullivan said. "Our tax rate is lower than surrounding communities. More than two-thirds of Massachusetts cities and towns have passed an override, and this is the first time this city has tried."
Margolis said his group has pointed out several ways the city can save money, from cutting school administrators to insisting that teachers pay a higher percentage of their health insurance costs.
"That will save us a couple of million dollars," he said. "Add a few of these things together and, guess what? Bingo, problem solved."
Armstrong and Sullivan said they agree that all cost-saving options should be explored, but they said many of the 'no' group's solutions are long-range and require changes on the state level. In the meantime, Beverly is planning to close McKeown School this year and lay off teachers, leading to increased class sizes.
"How can you focus on long term when you're sticking every finger in the dike every year because costs are going up so fast?" Armstrong said.
Sullivan said the city has already closed schools, laid off teachers and increased fees for everything from music to busing to sports to kindergarten.
"We are running out of things to cut," she said.
But Burke and Margolis said the schools and the city must learn to live within their budget, rather than asking for more money from people who are already struggling to stay within their own limited budgets at home.
"You're paying more for gas. You're paying more for food. You're paying more for heating oil," Margolis said. "How much more do you have to pay in taxes? Who are you working for? We need some money for ourselves."
Override election
r Tuesday, June 3, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
r Voting takes place at same polling locations as regular elections
r Voters will decide whether to allow a $2.5 million property tax increase to help fund the schools
r Taxes would permanently go up $185 per year for a home assessed at $450,000
