Why are the Library, Senior Center, and Community Center being targeted for closure?
The Selectmen and Finance Committee do not want to close the library, Senior Center, or Community Center. However, by statute any requests for override funds must be tied to one or more specific expenditures and cannot be tied to “general governance” or “operating expenses”. Collectively, the Lawrence Library, Council on Aging (i.e., Senior Center), and the Community Center budgets represent the full remaining shortfall amount. What happens if the override passes? The Lawrence Library, Senior Center, and Community Center budgets will be funded and will remain open. What happens if the override fails? Town Meeting approved contingent 1/12th budgets for each department to allow one month for the staffs to close the buildings. How much will the override cost? The State will certify Pepperell’s official tax rate after the fall Town Meeting, but the Assessors department expects the override to add approximately $52/year per $100,000 property valuation.
