Swampscott 'Select Board' Official, Tax Rate Set At Town Meeting

Swampscott MA

14 December, 2021

10:09 AM

Description

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott town meeting members approved $1.25 million in "free cash" supplements to help mitigate property tax increases in 2022, while voting unanimously to official change the town's Board of Selectman to a Select Board in the town's charter and bylaws, during Monday night's Special Town Meeting. The meeting — held virtually over Zoom amid the coronavirus crisis — worked through 12 articles in the warrant, some of which were combined for efficiency, with the recommendations of the Select Board and Finance Board upheld. Both boards debated the "free tax" supplement in recent weeks with both ultimately agreeing on the $1.25 million figure. The Select Board, which is seeking less reliance on tax breaks from the surplus fund in future years, had considered a $1 million supplement, while the Finance Committee had originally discussed a $1.55 infusion. Finance Committee Chair Tim Dorsey said the $1.55 million was based on an earlier, higher estimation of free cash reserves. The use of $1.25 million leaves about $447,000 in the free cash fund — or about 3.7 percent of the town's operating budget. "We had quite a few discussions around the use of free cash for this purpose for applying it to the tax levy," Dorsey said. "We think that as we move forward it's going to require really careful thinking and strategic thinking around the use of free cash — especially if the free cash reserves go down, or as other needs arise, there may be less available for purposes of the tax levy. "So the thinking is that conversation is going to be easier as we move forward as our tax rate continues to moderate compared to some of those in our peer communities." Under the approved rate, taxes for the average single-family Swampscott home will go up $129 in 2022, with taxes for the median single-family home going up $94. Among the other articles approved was the official name change of the Board of Selectmen to the Select Board. The town has unofficially referred to the body as the Select Board for several years. Select Board Chair Polly Titcomb introduced the gender-neutral article — which she said she hoped could be approved without debate. It passed 212 to 0. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.) More Patch Coverage: Swampscott Select Board Seeks 'Free Cash' Tax Levy Middle Ground Polly Titcomb Charts Course As New Swampscott Select Board Chair