The proposed $7M operational override will permanently raise taxes to 7.85% on top of the existing 1% surcharge for the Community Preservation Act.
Then, we will see another override in two years for the building of the Memorial School.
The Town Administrator has not collected unpaid taxes since the pandemic:
About $5M in unpaid taxes that could have helped avoid the override.
Why haven’t they been diligent in collecting delinquent taxes?
We need better spending oversight and fiscal conservation.
They gave away Eliot School/Auburn Street property for $100. If they had sold the property for $2M that Trask offered, the money could have been used for capital improvements the town claims to need in the override budget.
2. Ballooning School Costs Despite Flat Enrollment
Natick Public School (NPS) budgets have grown 76%over 10 years, with administrative compensation up 42% since 2019.
Adding affordable housing doesn’t add the taxes needed to
3. Memorial School Project Costs
Estimated cost: $72M—including a $2M feasibility study in 2026 and $70M for design and construction in 2028.This is the price today, it will continue to increase by the time with inflation until they break ground.
The project hinges on a $70M debt exclusion—this means another override in two years.
4. Closed Johnson School to Push for More Affordable Housing
The current Select Board voted to close Johnson School in light of a looming override. And against the protests of homeowners in the neighborhood.
The NAHT and Select Board are recommending that Johnson School be turned into affordable housing.
This will limit tax revenue for the town, increase traffic, and add even more students to our schools and put strain on our police and fireman services.
Negatively affects home values in the neighborhood.
Natick meets the 10% affordable housing requirement, why do we need to add more if it negatively impacts the budget?
5. ARPA Funds Spent on Low Priority Projects
Used ARPA funds to hire a Head of DEI and Head of Communications for the town. Why was this a priority over using the funds for capital improvements?
The funds could have been used to update the technology in the library and other town buildings so that town meetings enable remote access for residents via Zoom. Another decision that resulted in needing an override.
1. Rushed Decisions and Limited Resident Input
Major policies and fiscal decisions were approved with minimal public input.
Immigration policies:
Residents only had 48 hours to respond to surveys.
Residents were shut down at meetings and prevented from speaking more than once if they disagreed with the policies.
These policies attract undocumented immigrants to move to Natick, but the Select Board claims they will not impact the town budget.
Their kids will go to our schools and require additional aides to help them including English Language Learner (ELL) services.
They will require fire, police and Natick Service Council which also impacts our budgets.
Auburn Street sale open to only 30 days for bids.
There was no proper cost analysis on the bids they received.
Sold a $2M+ property for $100 + NAHT is also paying $600K to the builder instead of selling it for $2M + $200K donation to NAHT that Trask offered
Ten new single and multi-family homes would have brought $130K in taxes the first year vs. $63K from affordable housing (due to tax breaks).
The current Select Board told residents the affordable housing will be for Natick teachers, firemen, and police, but they have no control over who will be chosen to live there through the lottery or if they will be Natick residents.
The state of MA can place migrants living in shelters into the housing.
If it had sold for $2M+, the funds would have gone to the capital equipment fund, which is short according to the $7M override warrant.
Major policies and fiscal decisions were approved with minimal public input.
Immigration policies:
Residents only had 48 hours to respond to surveys.
Residents were shut down at meetings and prevented from speaking more than once if they disagreed with the policies.
These policies attract undocumented immigrants to move to Natick, but the Select Board claims they will not impact the town budget.
Their kids will go to our schools and require additional aides to help them including English Language Learner (ELL) services.
They will require fire, police and Natick Service Council which also impacts our budgets.
Auburn Street sale open to only 30 days for bids.
There was no proper cost analysis on the bids they received.
Sold a $2M+ property for $100 + NAHT is also paying $600K to the builder instead of selling it for $2M + $200K donation to NAHT that Trask offered
Ten new single and multi-family homes would have brought $130K in taxes the first year vs. $63K from affordable housing (due to tax breaks).
The current Select Board told residents the affordable housing will be for Natick teachers, firemen, and police, but they have no control over who will be chosen to live there through the lottery or if they will be Natick residents.
The state of MA can place migrants living in shelters into the housing.
If it had sold for $2M+, the funds would have gone to the capital equipment fund, which is short according to the $7M override warrant.
Only 48 hours to respond to surveys.
Residents were shut down at meetings and prevented from speaking more than once.
Auburn Street sale. 30 days for bids.
No proper cost-analysis on the bids they received.
Sold a $2M+ property for $100 to a nonprofit to build affordable housing
Minimal tax benefits to the town
The current Select Board sold residents housing for teachers, firemen and police, but they have no control over who lives in the housing or even if they will be Natick residents.
2. Development Without Comprehensive Planning
Rapid growth and new developments are straining infrastructure:
Why approve projects that won’t generate substantial tax revenue, like low-income rentals over condos or single-family homes, that would contribute property taxes to the town?
There is not enough parking for all of the new available retail space.
There is no cohesive design for each new building. Natick is losing its New England aesthetic and charm.
3. Poor Communication
Residents feel left in the dark about critical issues.
The current Select Board has been focused on its ideology rather than critical town needs.
They focus on non-priority issues that support their beliefs and not on what taxpayers want and what town infrastructure needs. first!
We need common-sense decisions to reverse the direction of the town. We need to take care of taxpaying residents first!
