Buckland voters are staring down a big-money decision on Tuesday, June 2, when they will decide whether to approve a $500,000 Proposition 2½ override that would keep the town's $2.75 million fiscal year 2027 budget intact. Town officials say that if the override fails, the town will be forced to cut school and municipal services and drain its already thin reserves. Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the second floor of Buckland Town Hall.
According to Town of Buckland, the polls will be located at Town Hall, 17 State St., Shelburne Falls, and this year's ballot features several uncontested races, plus two committee seats still open to write-in candidates. Listed candidates include incumbent Joan Livingston for Selectboard and Alicia Graves for town clerk.
What Is On The Ballot And The Estimated Tax Hit
The lone ballot question asks voters to raise the levy limit by $500,000 "for the purpose of funding school and municipal operations" so the town can fully fund Buckland's $2.75 million FY2027 budget. Officials estimate the override would push the property tax rate to about $18.27 per $1,000 of assessed value, which works out to roughly $530 more per year for a homeowner with a $350,000 house.
Finance Committee Chair Larry Langford told the Selectboard that the town's 2023 override request of $151,262 left the budget bare, and that the larger ask would "replenish the reserves that we have depleted over the past several years," while Finance Committee member Paula Consolo said the vote is needed "for our town to remain our town." Those concerns, including rising Mohawk Trail assessments, a proposed Franklin County Technical School building and Department of Environmental Protection testing of closed landfills that could require testing and cleanup, were detailed by Greenfield Recorder.
Franklin Tech Project Looms
The Franklin County Technical School's project website describes a roughly $236 million new-building proposal and explains how the 19 member towns would share annual capital assessments through long-term bonding. According to the Franklin County Technical School project site, the plans assume MSBA reimbursement and a district vote in October.
What A Yes Or No Would Mean
A "yes" vote would preserve the budget approved at Town Meeting and allow the town to shore up reserves. A "no" vote would force officials to pare back services, delay projects or cut staff in order to balance the books. Local leaders emphasize that many line items in the FY2027 plan are written with the assumption that the override passes.
How To Vote
Voters can cast ballots on Tuesday, June 2 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the second floor of Buckland Town Hall. Absentee ballots and other voting information are available from the Town Clerk's office. For official voting hours and candidate information, residents can consult the Town of Buckland voting page.
With no contested races on the ballot, the override is the headline showdown that will determine how Buckland handles rising school and infrastructure costs in the years ahead.
