Notice Under Chapter 427 of the Acts of 2006
AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE TOWN OF SHREWSBURY TO SEND CERTAIN INFORMATION TO THE VOTERS OF THE TOWN.
The Board of Selectmen is considering the placement of a Proposition 2 ½ operational override for the purposes of funding municipal and school operating expenses for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021.
In accordance with Chapter 427 of the Acts of 2006; “An Act Authorizing the Town of Shrewsbury to Send Certain Information to the Voters of the Town”, the Board of Selectmen is required to make available to voters certain information concerning these ballot questions. The Board will ensure that no less than 10 days prior to the date of the Special Town Election such information will be posted on the Town’s website, at each polling place, at the post office, and at the Town office building.
Section 1 of the Act requires the Board of Selectmen or Town Counsel to prepare a fair and concise summary of each ballot question, including one sentence statements indicating the effect of “yes” and “no” votes. In addition, the Board must arrange for the preparation of arguments in favor or opposed to each question to be prepared by principal proponents/opponents of the question best able to present those arguments.
While there is no specific mechanism in the Act for identifying principal proponents or opponents, the Act references ballot question committees and petitioners. The Act also specifically authorizes arguments to be prepared by a Town officer or committee. Therefore, as required by the Act, the Town is seeking persons who may want to be identified as principal proponents or opponents to prepare arguments opposing or in favor of passage of the potential question:
QUESTION 1
Shall the Town of Shrewsbury be allowed to assess an additional $9,500,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of funding municipal and school operating expenses for the fiscal year beginning July first, two thousand twenty one?
YES_____ NO_____
If interested, please inform the Board of Selectmen no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday March 29, 2021.
If letters of interest are filed, those determined to be best able to present the arguments for and against the ballot questions will receive written notice that they have been selected following a vote of the Board of Selectmen on March 30, 2021. The 250-word arguments will be due no later than noon on Thursday April 15, 2021.
If no persons identify themselves as interested in preparing arguments in favor of or in opposition of the passage of the questions, and/or if no arguments are received by the April 15, 2021 deadline, the Act requires that Town Counsel prepare the arguments.
Please contact the Board of Selectmen by mail at 100 Maple Avenue or by email at selectmen@shrewsburyma.gov to submit a letter of interest or with any further questions at 508- 841-8508.