By Steve Landwehr
Staff writer
May 14, 2008 06:00 am IPSWICH — An overstuffed Town Meeting packed with school backers last night made sure an increase in next year's school budget will be decided at the ballot box on Tuesday. Article 7 on the evening's agenda asked that a $1.5 million Proposition 21/2 override be added to the Town Election ballot, the first step toward circumventing the restrictions of the tax-limiting law. To take effect, the question now needs approval by a majority of voters. Successful passage of the override will add 55 cents to the property tax rate, adding about $192 to the yearly bill for the owner of a $350,000 home. The question drew a crowd larger than any recent Town Meeting, and the 625 people who showed up spilled out of the Performing Arts Center auditorium and across the hall to the middle and high school cafeteria. Although the round of cheering and applause that followed the first school supporter's comments made it clear the article was going to pass easily, discussion nonetheless went on for an hour. Saying he was the "voice of 2,102 students," School Committee member Barry Hopping introduced the motion. "We never needed your support more," Hopping said. He said the community was rightly proud of many of its assets, such as Crane Beach and extensive open space. "But they pale in comparison to our most precious commodities — our children and our schools," he said. Allen Lane resident John Meers, a well-known opponent of overrides, made his case to defeat this one. Fundamentally, he said, he was opposed to the notion that continually throwing money at a problem will solve it. Besides, Meers said, "Their increase in costs has far outstripped the cost of living." A smattering of muted applause followed Meers' statement. Among the cuts school administrators say they'll have to make if the override doesn't pass is the fourth-grade music program. That emotional issue alone ignited protests, but also on the block would be 11 teachers, slightly more than five support staff members and $100,000 in professional development support for teachers, an area administrators say they've had to woefully underfund in recent years. Classroom sizes would also increase, the elementary school libraries would be closed and extracurricular activities at the high school would be eliminated. Town Meeting approval is no guarantee the override will pass the ballot box test. Two years ago, a school override passed easily at Town Meeting but was narrowly defeated at Town Election. Ipswich voters have never approved a school operating budget override. When Moderator James Grimes called for the "nay" votes last night, only a handful of voices could be heard, in sharp contrast to the roar that carried the motion to victory. The meeting had not concluded as of Salem News press time, getting only as far as Article 11. Polls will be open at the YMCA on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. That will be the real test.
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