Frequently Asked Questions

How does an Override work?

By approving an override, the Town gains the authority to levy taxes beyond the standard annual 2.5% increment and any increase stemming from new growth. This action effectively establishes a permanent expansion of the levy ceiling, allowing the Town to allocate resources towards services and programs that align with the community's anticipated needs and preferences.

What’s the difference between an override and a debt exclusion?

While an override secures a lasting tax increase aimed at sustaining ongoing operational costs, debt exclusions offer a temporary tax increase designated to cover debt service resulting from bonding for a particular capital project, like constructing a new school.

Under debt exclusions, the debt service expenses are incorporated into the levy limit solely for the duration of the debt's lifespan, usually spanning between 10 to 30 years. Consequently, unlike overrides, debt exclusions do not contribute to the foundational calculation of levy limits in subsequent years.

Hanover’s FY25 Override Proposal

Why is an override needed? How did we get here?

Similar to many Massachusetts communities, the cost of providing services to the community has outpaced revenue growth allowed under Proposition 2 ½. The global pandemic and inflationary environment further exacerbated these budget pressures.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds have been used over the last few years towards applicable budget costs in order to alleviate some of the aforementioned budgetary pressures and to reduce the impact of these costs on property taxpayers. ARPA funding sunsets on December 31, 2024, meaning that beginning mid-FY25, the budget costs being funded this way will need to be funded through the operating budget.

The Town has also benefitted from a grant that has covered the costs of our regional dispatch assessment (ROCC). Beginning in FY25, the grant only covers ½ of the assessment, and then the Town is on the hook for the full assessment in FY26.

The Plymouth County Retirement assessment has increased, on average, 9.5% over the last five years. That trend will continue until FY30 when the assessment is expected to be fully funded.

On the School side, special education costs have increased drastically since the pandemic. These costs saw a 30.8% and 33.3% increase in FY22 and FY23, respectively. These increases are unprecedented and is not something that could have been planned for or foreseen.

The South Shore Vo-Tech assessment has also increased significantly, largely due to an increase in Hanover student’s enrollment.  The average increase is 14% over the last five years.

What is the size of the proposed override?

The proposed override is $6,002,330 to fund the Operating Budgets of the Town and Hanover Public Schools. If approved, the override would go into effect July 1, 2024.

Were other, lower override amounts considered?

Other, lower override amounts were discussed when preparing the override budget. However, any amount lower than the $6M would require service cuts. The Select Board decided to give residents the opportunity to vote on an override budget that would maintain level services across all departments.

How much will the proposed override increase my taxes?

The average increase for the average home is estimated to be approximately $1,400. There is a tax calculator on our website residents can use to see what their estimated impact would be.

What happens if the proposed override does not pass?

Here are the impacts to each department if the override does not pass this spring:

Fire Department ($178,371)

• Eliminating 1 Fire Fighter/Paramedic position
• Reduction in shift strength ( 6 à 5) = 15% of the time
• Slight reduction to call firefighter program

Police Department (93,828)

• One less officer on patrol at least 12hrs/day
• Reduction of civilian clerk personnel

Finance Department ($116,812)

• Elimination of 1 FTE
• Delay in financial reporting
• Elimination of any back-up support in the Finance Department

Community Services ($132,353)

• Reduction to Veterans’ Benefits
• Loss of Behavioral and Mental Health Veterans Program

Department of Public Works ($363,228)

• Stormwater budget moved to the Water Enterprise Budget
• Zero wiggle room in the budget for unanticipated costs, events, etc.

Library (25,908)

• No increase possible to Saturday hours

General Government ($29,159)

• Administrative Assistant ½ funded (50% ARPA, 50% Operating) – added pressure on FY26 operating budget to fully fund this position

Town-Wide Expenditures (522,199)

• ½ year assessment for ROCC (Regional Dispatch) contract – added pressure on FY26 operating budget to fully fund

School Department ($2,747,725)

• Elimination of approximately 30 teachers and 41 total positions.
• Increased class sizes in grades 1-12.
• Reduction of electives and programs, as well as a significant impact on counseling and health services.
• The override budget includes funding for reading specialists, a special education teacher, a speech and language pathologist, and an adjustment counselor.
• Reduction of district leadership, which would lead to reduced oversight, reduced communication, safety and security concerns, and reduced support for teachers and staff.
• Reduction of instructional materials, which includes a freeze on new technology and basic supplies and cuts to texts, materials, and software licenses. This would greatly impact art, music, and athletics
• The override budget includes $174,000 in full-day kindergarten tuition relief for families.
• See the School Budget Hearing Presentation for more information.

When are we voting? Do I have to vote in person?

The override requires two separate votes.

The first vote is at the Annual Town Meeting on Monday, May 6, 2024, at 7:30 pm at Hanover High School. Though viewing the Annual Town Meeting online or on TV is possible, if you want to vote, you must attend in person. The override vote will be part of Warrant Article 9 and requires a majority vote.

The second vote is at the Annual Town Election on Saturday, May 18, 2024. The override question will be Question 1. For the Town Election, you can vote in person on Election Day or you can vote by mail ahead of time.

You must be a registered voter in Hanover to participate in Town Meeting and the Town Election. The last day to register to vote for these events is Friday, April 26, 2024.

What happens if the override passes at Town Meeting but not at the Town Election? And vice versa?

If Town Meeting approves the override budget but the increase fails at the ballot, spending for Fiscal Year 2025 would revert to the base budget.

If Town Meeting does not approve the override budget but the increase passes at the ballot, Fiscal Year 2025 would revert to the base budget. However, this would increase the levy limit and the budget for Fiscal Year 2026 could go up to that limit, but the spending limit would again require a Town Meeting vote.

When and how often has Hanover passed overrides?

Hanover last approved an override in Fiscal Year 1998 and before that in Fiscal Year 1991. No override has been presented since.

How does Hanover compare with other communities on overrides?

According to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Municipal Databank, a majority of our comparative communities have proposed more overrides than Hanover since 1990. Please see table below for a breakdown by community.

How does Hanover compare with other communities on property tax bills?

Hanover’s average property tax bill is just about average in comparison to our comparative communities. Please see the chart below.

How does Hanover compare with other communities on property tax increases?

Hanover’s average increase to the average residential property tax bill over the last 9 years has been below the average when compared to our comparative communities. Please see chart below.

Additional Questions

Please contact the Town’s Finance Director, Chelsea Stevens, by email at chelsea.stevens@hanover-ma.gov or by phone at 781-826-5000, ext. 1037, or Town Manager Joe Colangelo by email at joseph.colangelo@hanover-ma.gov or by phone at 781-826-5000, ext. 1084.

For more information on the proposed Override Budget and the proposed Base Budget, please visit Hanover-MA.gov/Budget.

For information on abatements and exemptions and whether you qualify for one, please visit Hanover-MA.gov/Assessing.