Joint override sought for town, schools for FY08
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Selectmen have decided to try to combine the override request for both the town and school services.

At their Wednesday, March 21, the board asked Linda Sanders to ensure it is legal to put an override for the school services and the town services in the same article for the same ballot question.

"I think if we put them separate then we pit the schools against the town and the schools," said Peter McMurray.

The town is looking for raise about $248,000 for town services and about $373,000 for the schools.

The dollar amounts can be lowered on the floor of the town meeting, something the school committee said they would do if there is more state aid approved for the district.

Officials are looking to pass a Proposition 2 1/2 override to help supplement the town budget and make up the difference in state-mandated minimum school funding. If the article is approved at the annual town meeting in May then it will be brought to a ballot vote.

The money must go to the specified issue during the first year and then after that the money can go town fund any town service as part of the general operating budget.

Ashby isn't the only town in the school district that will seek an override to fund the school budget. Townsend's selectmen also plan to hold an override election after their town meeting.

If two of the towns in the school district, which includes Pepperell, pass the school budget then the third town must fund its share of the budget, according to the regional agreement.

"We'll get caught if the other two towns accept the budget," McMurray said.

The town meeting is Saturday, May 5, at Ashby Elementary School.