Voters: The Override Is Up To You

Now that Town Meeting has voted overwhelmingly to place the Proposition 2-1/2 override before the voters, the decision shifts to the residents of Norwood. Ultimately, this is not Town Meeting’s override – it is yours. On June 15, residents will vote on the override ballot question and must decide whether they are willing to permanently increase their property taxes by approximately $200 or more per year for the average homeowner, knowing full well that town leadership has already warned another override may follow within a few years. At Town Meeting, I opposed the override, and I would like to explain why. First, I want to thank the Norwood Police and Fire Departments for their work, professionalism, and dedication to our community. Public Safety is essential and deserves strong support. But public safety funding should not be isolated from the town’s broader financial picture. We are all in this together. Unfortunately, the town has framed this issue in a way that makes residents feel that opposing the override somehow means opposing Police and Fire services. That is simply unfair. Residents can support Public Safety while also questioning whether town government has exercised the fiscal discipline necessary to justify another tax increase. I agree that there is a legitimate need – I simply disagree with how the town is addressing it. The real issue is not whether Public Safety matters. It does. The issue is whether town leadership has made responsible financial decisions and whether taxpayers can continue absorbing ever-increasing costs. At some point, priorities matter. Discipline matters. Budgets must reflect what residents can realistically afford. Last fall, town leadership unanimously supported spending approximately $9 million to purchase Cofsky Farm and additional properties – despite concerns and recommendations against the purchase from FINCOM. Now, months later, the town is reportedly forming a committee to determine what to do with the property. That sequence raises legitimate questions about planning, priorities, and long-term financial management. Now the same leadership is unanimously recommending an override instead of first making difficult decisions to reduce spending and restore structural balance to the budget. Norwood does not simply have a revenue problem - it has a spending problem. I have seen little evidence of meaningful efforts to slow spending growth. In fact, the opposite often appears true. Residents are repeatedly told that every project, every expansion, and every expenditure is urgent and unavoidable. But taxpayers have limits. Even supporters of the override acknowledge that this proposal does not solve the Town’s underlying structural deficit. It primarily funds additional public safety staffing increases, while the larger financial imbalance remains unresolved. Town leadership has already warned residents that another override may be necessary in the near future. That should concern every taxpayer. Without serious long-term financial discipline, Norwood risks entering a cycle of recurring overrides and steadily escalating tax bills. If spending continues on its current trajectory, residents could realistically find themselves facing $10,000 annual property tax bills within just a few years. Residents deserve an honest conversation not only about services, but also about sustainability, priorities, and affordability. The voters now have the final say. Please vote NO on June 15. Steve Konetchy District 4 Town Meeting Member

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