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Explanations and Debt Impact of Ballot Questions

By contributor,

From the Town Manager's Office: An explanation of what a "YES" vote and a "NO" vote mean, and don't forget to check out the attached document with debt impacts for each question.

Question 1:
Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws (Proposition 2 ½, so-called) the amounts required to pay for the bond issued to provide for the purchase of a Fire Department Tender Truck?

At the 2011 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters voted to borrow $350,000 for the purchase of a tender truck, accessories and any other related costs. At the 2012 ATM, this amount was increased to $367,000. This borrowing was made contingent on the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

Question 2:
Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws (Proposition 2 ½, so-called) the amounts required to pay for the bond issued to provide for the design of a Department of Public Works headquarters facility, along with all related costs?

At the 2011 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters voted to borrow $250,000 for the design of a DPW headquarters facility, along with all related costs. This borrowing was made contingent on the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. No such vote was taken, however, within the 90-day period prescribed by statute. Therefore, any borrowing for this purpose would need to be approved at a future Town Meeting. A YES vote would mean that, if the funds are approved at a future Town Meeting, the levy limit will be temporarily increased to cover the cost of the borrowing. A NO vote would mean that no temporary increase will be authorized at this time.

Question 3:
Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws (Proposition 2 ½, so-called) the amounts required to pay for the bond issued to provide for the design, repair, maintenance, renovation and improvement of the track at Hopkinton High School?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters voted to borrow $278,500 for the design, repair, maintenance, renovation and improvement of the track at Hopkinton High School. This borrowing was made contingent on the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

Question 4:
Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws (Proposition 2 ½, so-called) the amounts required to pay for the bond issued to provide for the design and construction of drainage improvements on Lakeshore Drive?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters voted to borrow $300,000 for the design and construction of drainage improvements on Lakeshore Drive. This borrowing was made contingent on the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

Question 5:
Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to assess an additional $50,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of making Library Building envelope repairs and replacement of the knob and tube electrical system for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters appropriated $50,000 for Library Building envelope repairs and replacement of the knob and tube electrical system. This appropriation was made contingent on the passage of a capital outlay exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a one-year increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

Question 6:
Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to assess an additional $96,025 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of designing, repairing, maintaining, renovating and improving the main entrance of the High School loop road for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters appropriated $96,025 for the design, repair, maintenance, renovation and improvement of the main entrance of the High School loop road. This appropriation was made contingent on the passage of a capital outlay exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a one-year increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

Question 7:
Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws (Proposition 2 ½, so-called) the amounts required to pay for the bond issued to provide for the final design and construction of a traffic signal and intersection improvements at the intersection of School Street and West Main Street?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters voted to borrow $540,000 for the final design and construction of a traffic signal and intersection improvements at the intersection of School Street and West Main Street. This borrowing was made contingent on the passage of a debt exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a temporary increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of borrowing for this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

Question 8:
Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to assess an additional $64,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of purchasing a new 12-foot wide tractor-mower for maintaining the schools’ athletic fields for the fiscal year beginning July first 2012?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters appropriated $64,000 for the purpose of purchasing a new 12-foot-wide tractor-mower for maintaining athletic fields. This appropriation was made contingent on the passage of a capital outlay exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a one-year increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

Question 9:
Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to assess an additional $50,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of paving of Lumber Street?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters appropriated $50,000 to provide for the paving of Lumber Street, including any necessary grading, repairs and preparation for paving. This appropriation was made contingent on the passage of a capital outlay exclusion under Proposition 2 1/2, authorizing a one-year increase in the Town’s levy limit to cover the cost of this item. A YES vote would mean that the funds are approved and the expenditure will proceed. A NO vote would mean that the funds are disapproved and the expenditure cannot proceed without a future ballot vote within 90 days of the ATM.

Question 10:
Shall the Town of Hopkinton be allowed to exempt from the limitation on total taxes imposed by Chapter 59, Section 21C of the Massachusetts General Laws (Proposition 2 ½, so-called) the amounts required to pay for the bond issued to provide for the design of underground facilities to replace poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures in connection with the provision of public utilities upon, along or across Main Street?

At the 2012 Annual Town Meeting (ATM), the voters decided not to borrow $580,000 for the purpose of designing underground facilities to replace poles, overhead wires and associated overhead structures used in connection with the provision of public utilities upon, along or across Main Street. Any borrowing for this purpose would need to be approved at a future Town Meeting. A YES vote would mean that, if the funds are approved at a future Town Meeting, the levy limit will be temporarily increased to cover the cost of the borrowing. A NO vote would mean that no temporary increase will be authorized at this time.