According to mytownmatters.com, the Milton override passed with about 54% of the vote. Don’t know Milton’s override history, but that seems a fairly high Yes vote given the economy. Most towns desperately avoided overrides.
Complete results here:
http://02186.mytownmatters.com/
Just in case you all were wondering.
Please share widely!
Congratulations to Milton residents who decided to pay for the services provided by the town.
As a Milton resident who pays his taxes and raises his family, and runs his business in 02186, the image of Milton as a hack town is so inaccurate it is laughable. So is Chief Wells a hack? What about Kevin Mearn? Malcolm Larson? Mary Ann Sullivan? Tom Hurley? Shall I continue? The reality is that the Town did everything it needed to do and brought the ballot to the voters, as per the laws of Prop 2.5, and 4546 people agreed. To say that these people vote for hacks is insulting to their intelligence and why they vote. I also know that 3,900 people said no, but in the end, this override passed because the voters and taxpayers of Milton, when given the option, as per the law, chose to help the town. If you don’t like it, that’s cool. It’s America, but at least provide some commentary that talks to the votes and be classy about it. That’s all I ask. If the override did not pass, I would accept what the voters say. If you feel so strongly about this, become a Warrant Committee member, run for School Committee or Selectmen. Change the process by acting, not just criticizing. I love Milton and think its property values will continue to go up because of this historic vote.
I am a little baffled by all the comments about Milton’s overrides, as if “yes” and “no” were AL East rivals.
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p>Every town is different. What they decide is their business. I hope it works for them. These things are always a choice of lesser evils, because the state should be funding all its local mandates and generally sending a lot more money from the income tax to the cities and towns.
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p>I’d say the same, whatever the outcome, of the result in your town or city.
Take a look at how many diaries “I Am Spartacus” posted on this subject. Also at how many folks she insulted in the process.
s/he used up all the caps lock, bold face, and exclamation points. until we’re resupplied, i’m going to have to use colons instead:
This is outrageous% “+Demand change {now}##
In the middle of the worst economic climate since the Great Depression, Milton teachers will get a 4% salary increase during the 09/10 school year. This, despite failing to meet State testing minimums in several subjects throughout all grades. Across the country, layoffs, pay reductions, hiring freezes, and bonus elimination are the norm, but Town employees will also receive a pay increase in the coming year (reported in last week’s Milton Times). One might say the Board of Selectmen has totally failed Milton residents by signing off on costs they cannot cover with guaranteed tax revenue. Another might praise their foresight in rewarding their buddies on the municipal payroll after realizing voters will follow, like sheep to the slaughter, every pro-tax editorial, website and placard in town.
What were the past raises? Is the acceptance of 4% because they are overdue?
I don’t know what past raises were. I don’t begrudge the teachers union for negotiating the best package possible for their members. The problem rests on the shoulders of the Selectmen who agreed to a contract the town cannot afford. Recently in the Milton Times, Selectman Marion McEttrick lamented that teacher compensation was “unaffordable in the best of times, and these are the worst of times”. The regular, cyclical need for overrides plus this stunning admission should give residents all they need to know about town leadership. Then again, why should they change the modus operandi? They continue to win office and taxes continue to rise…
… that how much they are backed into a corner on the raise may be a function of how long they have done without.
As another concerned Milton resident, I don’t care how long they may have done without. Lots of people are doing without jobs right now, nevermind raises. Municipal employees who have both a job and benefits ought to be very happy, considering this economic environment. The selectmen seem to have no stomach for confrontation with the unions on bargaining and that does not serve the town well.
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p>A related issue is that the Milton Board of Selectmen and Planning Board show little inclination to facilitate commercial developments that would increase our puny commercial tax base. Those that can afford constant overrides and who eschew commercial development that “might threaten the pastoral nature” of Milton have been able to drown out the voices of the many residents who would like some well-planned development.