WORTHINGTON BUDGET AND VOTE TO OVERRIDE PROP 2.5% LEVY LIMIT
Voting Information for the November 8, 2025 Election
The issue
The FY26 Town Budget, as approved by Town Meeting voters on June 7, has a shortfall of $145,527.70.
Why is this a problem?
Like all communities in Massachusetts, Worthington needs to have a balanced budget before it can submit its tax rate to the Department of Revenue for approval.
How did this happen?
The majority of the town’s expenses are fixed costs, such as employee salaries and cost-of-living increases. Additionally, the prices of goods and services have been rising rapidly for the past several years, while town revenue from new growth has remained relatively flat. The Massachusetts law known as Proposition 2 ½ strictly limits the amount of property tax revenue a community can raise through real and personal property taxes.
So how do we balance the budget?
Ways to balance the budget include applying money from available funds, such as from the stabilization fund or free cash to meet the shortfall, possibly increase local estimated receipts, or reduce expenses.
The Worthington Select Board has voted to hold an election on November 8, asking the town to consider an override of the property tax growth restrictions of Proposition 2 ½. The November 8 ballot will include two questions, one with an override amount of $195,000 and a second with an override amount of $290,000. To pass, a question must be approved by a majority of the voters. If both questions pass, the one with the higher dollar value will prevail.
What happens if an override is approved?
If an override is approved by the voters, the FY2026 operating budgets, as approved by Annual Town Meeting in June 2025, will utilize approximately $145,000 of either override. This would leave $45,000 or $145,000 in untaxed excess levy capacity for future use subject to appropriation by voters at Town Meeting, enabling the community to plan for increased cost of living and inflation expenses.
Based on our current estimate of the deficit at $145,527.70, an Average Single Family Property Value of $382,004 would see an increase in their annual tax bill of $286.50. You can see more detail in the Tax Impact document linked here.
A recording of the Thursday evening (10/30/2025 meeting is below
A recording of the Saturday morning (10/4/25) meeting is below.
(Unfortunately the camera stopped working about halfway through the event, but the full audio recording is there.)
A recording of the Thursday evening (9/26/25) meeting is below.
Download a PDF of the Finance Committee Handout discussed at the Information Meetings (all the documents are also linked in the list on the right side of this page.)
