Westhampton rejects $500K tax override by 59 votes

WESTHAMPTON — Voters shot down a request for a $500,000 Proposition 2½ override by 59 votes at a special election on Saturday, meaning the town will either dip below level services next year with cuts or find another way to make savings.

The only question on the ballot asked residents to vote “yes” or “no” to surpass the tax-levy limit of 2.5%, in an effort from the town to maintain level services in fiscal year 2027, as the town faces an approximate half-million dollar deficit.

The measure was defeated 373-314, with a total of 687 residents submitting a ballot, according to unofficial results. Westhampton has a population of 1,622.

“We had an incredible turnout,” Select Board member Jennifer Milikowsky said on Monday. “And we have a challenge before us to provide as close to level services as we can.”

Before the override, town officials made a list of likely cuts that may be made if the $500,000 cannot be filled to some extent. Milikowsky said the list is a “starting point,” and the town will spend the next four weeks deciding next steps until the annual Town Meeting on Saturday, May 9.

Finance Committee Chair Tad Weiss said there are many steps that can be taken moving forward, but he sees three options available: proposing another override, dip into town savings to cover the shortfall, or make cuts.

“We may end up going to Town Meeting with a proposal that has a different combination of those three,” Weiss said. “What’s also possible is somebody at Town Meeting proposes a combination of those three, in which case, there will be an opportunity for town residents to vote on that. It’s very fluid at the moment but the facts remain that we have a budget that’s out of balance by half a million dollars.”

Town officials expect to make final recommendations before the Town Meeting, where residents can also make suggestions and potential changes. If there are still outlying funds after the May 9 Town Meeting, the meeting will need to be continued to a date before the end of the current fiscal year on June 30.

“We have a huge mountain to climb,” Weiss said.

The two largest cuts listed include a $275,000 reduction from Westhampton Elementary School and $100,000 for the Department of Public Works (DPW).

The cuts could result in the elementary school losing five full-time and one part-time employees, and a paraprofessional’s hours would be reduced. Specifically, three interventionists, a library and media paraprofessional, a health position and a custodian were listed to be lost.

At the DPW, there could be a 38% reduction in highway materials, meaning there would be less upkeep of town roads and slower repair times for things like potholes. The staff of the transfer station may have their hours reduced, keeping the station only open on Saturdays.

The remaining $125,000 may be cut from several departments: $60,000 from general government, $40,000 from Public Safety, $16,000 from library services and $9,000 from the Council on Aging.

Those cuts could change however, depending on if the town proposes another override or dips into savings.

“There’s still a lot of moving parts,” Milikowsky said. “We have to come up with a budget that’s balanced and reasonable, and look at the budget as a whole.”

Milikowsky and Weiss both said that personally they are disappointed about the override being shot down, knowing that potential cuts could be made. But they are also proud of the voter turnout and the amount of work put into getting the override organized.

“I don’t want to look at the glass as being half empty,” Weiss said. “I came away disappointed but also optimistic that people really tried.”

“People want to maintain level services but also may not want to pay the tax increase,” Milikowksy said. “I can understand that. A lot of the same budget strains we’re feeling is what people are feeling in their homes,” such as health insurance increases and increased costs.

The Select Board and Finance Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, April 15 to discuss the results of the override. The final budget proposal must be approved at least three days before the Town Meeting.