Are overrides “forever”?
May 14th, 2008 by Paul Leighton
Reader Joan e-mailed this morning asking if the override, if successful, would be for one year, two years, or “forever,” as the anti-override bumper stickers around town say.
Joan says the ballot question makes it seem like it’s for one year, and an item on the Yes for Beverly Web site, which makes a reference to Year One and Year Two, makes it seems like it’s for two years.
The correct answer is “forever.” If an override increases your property taxes by $150, for example, you’ll be paying that $150 every year.
It could be argued that “forever” is not technically correct, because there is a provision in the law to vote for an underride, which would reduce taxes. But underrides are rare.
2 Comments to “Are overrides “forever”?”
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1Tom Crean said:
The overide would be forever, plus the second year it would be added to the tax base. This means every subsequent year it can grow by an additional 2 1/2% as provide by law. Second year would be $153.75, third year $157.59 and so on forever.
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2Rich said:
There are two type of Prop 2-1/2 over rides. One is a debt exclusion over ride. A debt exclusion override only lasts until the debt (ie bonds for a new school) is payed. The second is a general override, which is the type Beverly’s citizens are being ask to vote upon. A general over ride is essentially forever unless the voters vote for an under ride. Under rides are a lot like Bigfoot, you hear a lot of stories that such a thing theoretically exists but no one has ever found one.
