INFORMATION ABOUT Acton Voters Group PETITION DRIVE

CLICK HERE for a chart on Acton's reserve funds.

This chart shows Acton's reserves for the last few years, including the current fiscal year. Note that our town leaders spent the reserves down to nearly zero just a few years ago. Now, because of increased Chapter 70 aid, NESWC, and a couple of smaller windfalls, our reserves are at historically high levels.

CLICK HERE for the AB Regional School District Excess and Deficiency (E&D) balances per the DoR. This the regional school district's equivalent to Free Cash, it is not controlled by the town but by the regional school committee.

Acton at a Glance Report

This is a useful page of Acton-related information provided by the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

WILL THIS PETITION DRIVE REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES?

No, this is just the FIRST STEP in a two-step process. The petition will require that a Special Town Meeting be held this Fall. After discussion at the meeting - it will be your "yes" vote that will reduce the tax rate. So we need your support (and signature) now, and your vote at the Special Town Meeting this Fall.

DOES SIGNING THE PETITION COMMIT ME TO VOTE FOR A TAX DECREASE?

No, signing the petition merely calls for the Special Town Meeting. This Meeting will give voters a choice. All voters are invited and encouraged to participate in the Special Town Meeting which we expect will be held in September or early October.

HOW MUCH MONEY WILL I SAVE IF THIS SUCCEEDS?

We propose using about $2.5 million in the Recycling and Transfer Station Enterprise Fund (formerly called the NESWC Enterprise Fund) to reduce property taxes in Fiscal Year 2009 (this current year). This proposal, if approved, will result in no tax increase from last year. Taxes were expected to rise about 4.1%. The average residential tax bill is just over $8,000 per year, so a 4.1% savings would result in about $320 per household on average.

HOW WAS THE 4% TAX INCREASE AND THE AMOUNT NEEDED TO ELIMINATE IT DETERMINED?

These figures came from the Acton Leadership Group Financial Plan handout that was presented at last April's Annual Town Meeting. The increase (4.07%) is shown on the bottom line of the FY09 column and the $2,414,809 amount needed to eliminate it was obtained from the FY08 and FY09 Tax Levy amounts listed in that handout.

IF THIS EFFORT SUCCEEDS, WILL BUDGETS BE REDUCED?

No, the operating budgets will not be reduced if this effort is successful.

IF THIS EFFORT FAILS, WILL THE MONEY BE SPENT?

Plans call for these savings to eventually be spent, but nothing can be spent without Town Meeting approval. If this effort fails, we will make another attempt at the next Town Meeting, which is normally in April of each year.

SHOULDN'T WE LET THE TOWN KEEP THIS MONEY FOR EMERGENCIES?

The Town of Acton has well over $5 million in reserves. The state recommends a Free Cash fund of about 5% for emergencies. Between the town and local school budgets, this amount would be only $2.5 million. Our effort would preserve that amount. Anything above that should be returned to the taxpayers. (The regional schools have their own dedicated reserve account.)

WHY SHOULDN'T WE LET THE TOWN SPEND THE MONEY?

The town has a history of spending reserves on operating expenses. Using one-time, non-renewable revenues to balance an operating budget is frowned upon by the Department of Revenue for good reason. By returning this surplus to the taxpayers, it will be impossible to use these reserves to fund operating expenses.

HAS A REDUCED TAX RATE BEEN DONE BEFORE?

Yes. Last year, the major boards approved a tax reduction of about $600,000, which resulted in a savings of about 1% of each property tax bill. This effort is nothing new. We feel the time is right to do it again because of the size of the current surplus.

IS IT DANGEROUS FOR US TO SPEND DOWN THESE RESERVES?

Not at all. The Department of Revenue suggests a reserve of about 5%. We have more than double that amount. We can return $2.5 million and still have more than adequate reserves.

WILL THE TOWN LOSE THIS TAXATION ABILITY IF WE HAVE THIS TAX REDUCTION?

No, the town will still be able to "tax to the max" in the future, but the specific amount being used to lower the tax rate this year will stay in taxpayer's pockets.

WHEN WILL THE SPECIAL TOWN MEETING BE HELD?

The Selectmen will set the meeting within 45 days of delivery of our petition to the town clerk. If you provide us with your email address, we will send you an announcement when the date has been set.

If the planned property tax increase for FY2009 is 4.07 %, why is the tax bill that I just received only 2.50% higher than last years'?

The bills that were sent on 6-30-08 (due 8-1-08) are preliminary. State law limits the amount of increase that towns can use for preliminary tax bills to 2.50 %. (see Reference). If the tax reduction proposal is not accepted, tax bills for FY2009 will be 4.07 % higher (on the average) than last years'. The 3rd and 4th quarter bills which will be sent out next spring will have to be 5.5 % higher to "catch up" with this increase.

Reference : M.G.L. Ch 59 S 57c -- http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/59-57c.htm -- 2nd paragraph

Why is it possible to transfer money from the NESWC Enterprise fund to reduce taxes? Are Enterprise funds not restricted?

Yes, that is correct, Enterprise funds are restricted. Special legislation was needed to allow transfers from the NESWC fund for any purpose, legislation which was granted because it was determined that the potential requirement of "recapping" the landfill for which millions of dollars were accumulated did not exist. This legislation (see Reference) which was requested by the Acton Board of Selectmen, confirms that the balance available in this fund is not needed for the operation of the Recycling and Transfer Station.

Reference : http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw06/sl060376.htm *