By Sean Sullivan

In Natick’s annual March elections, the town’s much-debated tax override passed by a margin of nearly 20 percentage points.

Passage of the measure will allow the town to increase property taxes on residents and other stakeholders. Absent such an override, Massachusetts law limits the amount a municipality may increase such taxes annually.

That state ceiling is set at a 2.5% bump per year in addition to new growth, yet the override will allow Natick to surpass that limit.

Debate surrounding the proposed override turned contentious in public meetings, with some residents voicing a preference for fiscal austerity in lieu of a tax hike. Opponents to the override cited its impact on homeowners, who are already coping with household inflation. 

Older residents on fixed incomes might also be acutely vulnerable to the tax increase, critics of the measure said. Others claimed the override’s boost in property taxes could also put Natick homes out of reach for potential buyers who are younger and for those with lower incomes.

In a roadside spot outside Natick’s Community Senior Center on voting day, Donna McKenzie propped up a sign in each hand. The yellow posters affixed to both bore her name, advertisements for her bid for a spot on Natick’s School Committee.

The sign in McKenzie’s right hand did double duty. Riding atop her name was another placard, one that read “Yes on 1.” That was the number assigned to the override vote, the only ballot question put before voters that March 25th day.

“I am of a mind that there is not much more in the budget that they can cut without harming the students,” said McKenzie. She was referring to the town’s school system tightening its belt in recent years, citing that Natick schools had shaved about $2,000,000 during that time.

“I went to all Natick schools,” as a student, said McKenzie. “These are our kids and we owe them. All three of us are yes votes.”

She shared space in their roadside spot with Natick residents Jaymin Patel and Amy Hille. The two were running for School Committee and Town Meeting spots respectively.

Patel’s daughter attends a Natick preschool, and he cited the need to support public education as a main reason for supporting the override.

“We’re fighting for the future here,” he said, propping up a sign a of his own that advertised his candidacy.

In favor of the override, Hille spoke about her concern for quality-of-life issues in the town. She pointed to potential cuts in services and infrastructure maintenance, should the ballot measure be voted down.

“This pothole brought to you by ‘No on Question 1,’” she said.

Patel would go on to win his bid for a School Committee seat, while McKenize fell short in that contest. Hille also did not earn enough votes to become a member of Town Meeting.

Competing with Hille for a slot in that Precinct 7 race was Bruce Evans, who garnered the highest percentage of votes in that election. Evans was also in the running for re-election to Natick’s Select Board, a bid that was also successful in the March vote.

Speaking shortly after the elections, Evans reiterated his support for the override. He pointed also to those potential cuts in services, infrastructure and schools that will now be averted with the passage of Question 1.

That said, Evans said the town will continue to cut costs wherever it makes sense to do so.

“We need to continue to get better,” he said. “We need to find our way to efficiently manage our resources.”

Also on the deliberative docket of the Select Board and other town officials, are the implications of policy from a national and even global perspective. Disruptions in federal funding, tourism and trade can take a hefty toll on small communities.

“There’s so much uncertainty in the economy right now,” said Evans. “What are the cuts of the Department of Education going to mean for our schools? We’re trying to figure out what’s happening with all the things swirling around Washinton.”

And amid that environment, there are also the challenges and projects that continue apace in Natick’s own backyard.

Among the big ones, Evans cited the new Memorial School project, and the planned overhaul of the town’s interchange at Routes 9 and 27. Attracting new businesses to Natick also made his list of priorities.

Evans will no longer serve as the Select Board’s Vice Chair in his new 3-year term, as the governing body’s makeup is rotated post-election. The board wastes little time in the wake of voters having their say. The night after the election, a “reorganization meeting” occurs, one that determines the titles and roles of the new Select Board.

Kathryn Coughlin was re-elected to a second term in the March contests, and will retain her role as Chair. Linda Wollschlager was chosen to serve as its new Vice Chair.

“It makes a stronger board when you rotate it around,” said Evans. “I’m pretty pleased with the makeup of this board.”

All five members of the executive body are volunteer positions, and each member’s workload can approximate a full-time occupation. Asked why he does it, Evans turned reflective.

“Sometimes, you really shake your head.” But “All of us doing this are in it for the right reasons. We’re in it to solve problems. What makes the most sense for the most people in town.”