LtE: Why We’re Voting Yes on the Override and Yes on CPA
We’ve lived in Reading for 27 years. We bought our first home here and have loved everything the town offers, from walking our dog in Reading Town Forest to serving on Town Meeting. Most importantly, our children received an excellent education in Reading’s schools. To help preserve what we value about Reading, we’re voting Yes on both the $6.5 million Proposition 2 1⁄2 operational override and the Community Preservation Act (CPA) on November 3.
We don't take a tax increase lightly. Our own bill will go up, and we’ve felt the impact of rising costs like all of our neighbors. We’ve looked at what a failed override would mean, however, and it worries us. More than 60 full-time equivalent positions could be cut across the Town and schools, including teachers and paraprofessionals. Young families, as we once were, could see larger class sizes, cuts to athletics and extracurriculars, and the return of tuition based full-day kindergarten. Police, fire, and public works would face reductions, and the library could lose hours and staff, putting its certification at risk. More cuts would follow in subsequent years.
Some suggest waiting until April 2027 and asking voters for a smaller amount. We understand the instinct, but waiting doesn't make the problem go away. Since the last override in 2018, Town and school administrators have thoughtfully stretched our dollars while inflation outpaced what Proposition 2½ allows. Without an override for FY28, deeper cuts would be necessary, and in April 2027 we'd still be asked to pay more, for substantially reduced services.
We’re also voting Yes on the CPA. It can help fund open space and recreation, historic preservation, and affordable housing, and state matching funds stretch our local dollars. The match has shrunk, but even a smaller match is money Reading only gets if we participate.
The CPA has built-in protections, too. The 1% surcharge applies only to residential property and excludes the first $100,000 of assessed value. Businesses, low-income residents, and qualifying low- and moderate-income seniors are exempt. Spending is limited to community preservation purposes, with oversight from a dedicated committee, an annual public hearing, and Town Meeting approval.
We especially want our neighbors on fixed incomes to know help exists. Reading's Assessing Department offers property-tax exemptions and a financial-hardship deferral for those who can't fully pay because of age, infirmity, or limited income. These aren't automatic. You have to apply and qualify, but it's worth asking. The Elder and Human Services Department also offers support for residents of all ages. We hope these programs will expand in the coming years to meet the needs of more seniors and families.
This is a difficult choice. The impacts of doing nothing, however, are clear. We hope you'll join us in voting Yes on both questions on or before November 3.
Sincerely,
Carolyn and Ken Johnson
Thorndike St.