Voters to decide on temporary tax increase

On June 7, Saugus residents will vote on an unusual request: a single-year tax increase to cover cost overruns resulting from an exceptionally snowy winter.

Unlike a Proposition 2½ override, which becomes a permanent part of the tax levy, the increase proposed by Saugus officials would expire at the end of fiscal 2012. Robert Bliss, communications director at the Department of Revenue, said such proposals are extremely rare.

The proposal would generate an additional $1.27 million in tax revenue, almost exactly matching the amount by which snow and ice removal costs exceeded the budget, according to Town Manager Andrew Bisignani. The owner of a single-family home at the town’s median valuation of $324,000 would pay about $85 in additional taxes, he said.

Bisignani said that voter approval of the proposal would soften cuts that are expected in school and public safety departments, including the potential shuttering of a fire station.

“Last fall, like other communities, we were experiencing budget difficulties,” Bisignani said. “By the time we got into the budget season, we were wondering, ‘How are we going to get through next year?’”

Saugus residents have never been receptive to overrides, he said, and a 2004 debt exclusion passed by only 30 votes.

Bisignani credited Rep. Donald Wong, who is also chair of the Saugus Board of Selectmen, for enabling swift approval of a home rule petition that was required to put the one-time tax increase up for a vote. Gov. Deval Patrick signed the bill on May 2.

“This was all done in record time, over a period of about five weeks,” Bisignani said.