Learn About the Town of Millis Proposition 2-1/2 Operational Override

When is the Spring Annual Town Meeting?
Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 7:30pm at the Millis Middle/High School Auditorium, 245 Plain Street

When is the Election?
Monday, May 13, 2024, from 7am – 8pm at the Veterans Memorial Building, 900 Main Street.

What’s on the Ballot?

Question 1
Shall the Town of Millis be allowed to assess an additional $1,400,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of providing for the general administrative cost of operating the schools, police department, fire department, and department of public works, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024?

What are we voting on?
You are voting as to whether to approve a ballot measure at the annual town election scheduled for May 13, 2024.
CLICK HERE to learn more about Proposition 2-1/2 Overrides.

This ballot question is asking voters for permission to raise property taxes above the 2.5% ceiling imposed by Massachusetts’ Proposition 2 ½.  By state law, increases above the 2.5% cap must be approved by a majority of voters.  The general operating override would provide funding to support the needs of Millis’ Public School students, would provide additional staff in the police and fire departments to help maintain public safety, and would add staff to the department of public works (DPW) to assist in fixing/maintaining roads & sidewalks and to improve safety for the traveling public.

Operating Override Funding Needs:

School Wages                                                                     $ 1,070,767

Police Department Wages (2 additional police officers)      $   180,000

Fire Department Wages (1 fire captain)                              $      95,118

Public Works Wages (1 laborer)                                          $      54,115                       

                                                                       TOTAL          $ 1,400,000

Why is an operational override needed?
The Town of Millis has continuously implemented efficiency measures in order to deliver our services and programs at the least cost possible.  Nonetheless, the Town faces financial challenges.  Inflation rates for costs affecting all departments have repeatedly exceeded 2.5% per year.   Healthcare, pensions, utilities, internal and external labor costs, are all examples of cost centers which have historically risen at a rate far greater than 2.5%.   There have been a series of large spikes in the cost of these essential expenses since the last operational override was approved 16 years ago.   The annual inflation rate of the greater Boston area has averaged over 4% in the period from 2020 to 2024. 

In addition, “Local Aid”, which are funds that are annually provided to municipalities from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has not kept pace with inflation.   As you’ll see from the state aid chart below, the Commonwealth has been steadily shifting the financial burden of local government services away from state aid and towards local revenues (primarily local property taxes).   The average annual increase in State Aid from 2015-2023 was 1.15%
State Aid Chart

In addition to these financial pressures, the school department has been faced with rapidly increasing demand for special education services over the past 5 years (see chart below).
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Chart

We have seen an increase in the number of students requiring special education services in the last 5 years.  We are still below the state average for students with IEP's, but our percentage of students with disabilities has grown significantly.  Especially in the younger grades, we are seeing more students requiring specialized instruction.
All of these factors have created a structural deficit, that needs to be addressed either through additional revenues, or through the reduction of expenses by way of reduced services.

How much will the override increase my property taxes?
CLICK HERE to see the tax impact chart. 

The chart shows that a home in Millis which is equal to the average single family assessed value (FY24) of $571,445 would be impacted with a $400 increase should the override be approved.

How do our property taxes compare with neighboring communities?
CLICK HERE to see a map showing the average single family tax bills of area communities.

Millis’ average single family property tax bills are in line, and in most cases are far less, than our neighboring communities.  This is the case even though Millis has far less commercial tax base than many of our neighbors.

Has Millis ever passed an operational override?
Millis voters have approved operational overrides only twice since 2000. In 2006 voters approved an override of $1,159,139, and in 2008 they approved an override of $180,000.

Are there other local communities in Massachusetts that are considering operational overrides this year?
The Town of Franklin is facing a $10.1 Million deficit for FY25
The Town of Norton is facing a $5.5 Million deficit for FY25

What actions has Millis taken since 2017 to generate new revenue?
The Town has aggressively pursued grants that have provided over $7.2 Million (not including CARES or ARPA* grants) in funds to assist in the provision of local services and capital projects. The Town has sought smart growth through the construction of a large number of housing developments (i.e. Regency at Glen), and local businesses (i.e. CommCan).

What happens if the override doesn’t pass?
The School Department will be forced to make a number of staffing reductions which will increase class sizes and negatively impact student services and support.
CLICK HERE for a detailed list of School impacts.

As part of the Police Department’s strategic plan, which was formally submitted in 2016, it was expected that at least 4 additional officers would be added to the department by 2020.   Unfortunately, budget constraints have prevented the addition of these officers.  The likely consequences of under staffing within the police department are substantial and wide-ranging:

• Delayed Response Times: A shortage of officers may lead to increased emergency response times, potentially compromising public safety.
• Increased Crime Rates: Under staffing can impede proactive policing efforts, resulting in higher crime rates in certain areas.
• Strained Community Relations: Insufficient staffing levels may hinder community engagement and trust-building initiatives, straining relations between law enforcement and the public.
• Officer Safety Concerns: Under staffing puts additional pressure on existing officers, elevating their risks during high-stress situations.

The Fire Department will continue to provide public safety services to the best of their ability with the resources provided.  However, rapidly rising call volume will continue to cause delays in safety inspections, required staff training, and code compliance reviews.   Concerns with overall public safety will remain as staffing levels remain below recommended levels.

The Department of Public Works had a study of departmental operations completed by an independent consultant in 2020.   The results of the study showed that the Millis DPW needed to add four additional staff in order to effectively carry out their duties and to be on par with similar communities.   Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, the Town has only been able to add one DPW Laborer since 2020.   Should the override fail, the DPW will continue to struggle to keep the streets and other facilities in a safe condition for use by the public.

*CARES =The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act
  ARPA = American Rescue Plan Act