$8 million tax hike saves Hingham freshman sports, pays for new jobs
HINGHAM − Voters approved a $7.9 million temporary tax increase Saturday, according to preliminary results posted to the town's website.
Town officials said the money is needed to maintain current services, hire more firefighters and fill several positions in the schools and other departments.
The measure, which passed with 62% of 5,622 votes cast, will add about $900 to next year's tax bill for the average Hingham home, which is valued at $1.1 million. That amount will steadily decrease each year until the $7.9 million is paid off.
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The tax increase will allow the town to hire four more firefighters, which select board Chairman Bill Ramsay said will bolster a shorthanded force and save the town money in the long run.
Ramsey said many firefighters have been forced to work double shifts to ensure station coverage. When that happens, they're paid overtime, which cost the town $392,000 last year.
"This has taken a toll on morale. I mean, imagine having to work a 24-hour shift and you're being told you can't go home because you're now being forced to work another shift," he said.
School representatives had warned that without the tax increase, also known as a debt exclusion, services would have been cut back and positions left vacant.
At a February meeting, school committee Chairwoman Michelle Ayer said the schools need a nursing coordinator to handle the medical needs of the district's 1,500 students.
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Superintendent of Schools Margaret Adams said that if the proposal had failed, it would have resulted in a diminished curriculum and reductions in teachers, administrators, textbooks, materials and supplies.
She said the elimination of freshman sports would have been likely, “which we know is so important for many students for their social, emotional and learning needs."
Of the $7.9 million, $6 million will be used to balance the regular operating budget and save freshman sports teams as well as 46 teaching and administrative jobs. Other cuts would have closed the library on Sundays, reduced the frequency of townwide trash pickup and removed a fire truck or ambulance from service on affected shifts.
In addition to the ballot question, 10 candidates ran for public offices, although only one seat was contested. Tracy Shriver defeated Thomas Patch to win a seat on the town's planning board. Shriver claimed 3,491 votes to Patch's 2,106.
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Reporter Joel Barnes contributed to this report. Reach Peter Blandino at pblandino@patriotledger.com.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Hingham election results: Tax hike approved, new planning board member
