Proposition 2 1/2 overrides in Lancaster

A historical retrospective of general overrides

Date of election Fiscal Year Purpose of override Amount Passed
/ failed
Sept. 25, 1989 1989 Operating budget  (full funding) $435,670
defeated
May 14, 1990 1990 Lancaster schools (full funding) $448,000
defeated
    Lancaster schools (partial funding) $291,000
defeated
    Police Department (full funding) $92,590
defeated
    DPW positions (5)/trash pickup/landfill $126,750
defeated
    Nashoba Regional (full funding) $471,137
defeated
    Nashoba Regional (partial funding) $335,000
defeated
    Nashoba Regional (partial funding) $255,00
defeated
    Library operating (full funding, 47 hours) $50,000
defeated
    Library operating (partial funding, 43 hours) $42,000
defeated
    Recreation department (full funding) $20,650
defeated
June 17, 1991 1991 Lancaster schools operational $500,000
defeated
    Police Department operational $600,000
defeated
    Town Library, three day schedule $23,615
defeated
    Selectmen, current office hours $8,000
defeated
    DPW curbside trash pickup/disposal $244,050
defeated
    DPW personnel wages $54,000
defeated
    Recycling program $25,000
defeated
    Assessor/collector/clerk/treasurer hours $14,846
defeated
Sept. 24, 1991 1991/92 Make up state aid difference $71,000
defeated
May 11, 1992 1992 Lancaster schools operational $121,295
defeated
    Police Department, 2 officers $72,000
passed
    Town Library operations $14,816
passed
Sept. 21, 1992 1993 Lancaster schools (full funding) $225,000
defeated
July 15, 1996 1997 Town operating budget (full funding) $268,920
defeated
Sept. 17, 1996 1997 Police Department $72,000
defeated
    Fire Department $15,000
defeated
    DPW operating budget $50,000
defeated
    Ambulance Department $6,000
defeated
    Town Library $3,400
defeated
    Board of Health $4,000
defeated
Aug. 4, 1997 1998 Operating budgets (ambulance, communication, 
fire, police DPW)
$189,031
passed
June 19, 2000
Debt exclusion
For added funds of $3.8 million to the elementary/middle school project.
Debt:
$3.8 million
passed


Debt exclusion
For add funds of $450,000 for the public safety building project
Debt: $450,000
passed

June 29, 1999
2000
General override of $152,098 for operating budget
$152,098
defeated



$38,538 for Community Development and Planning Director
$38,538
defeated



$5,000 for Senior Citizen Tax Rebate Program
$5,000
passed

June 16, 2003
2004
General override for $2.3 million
$2.3 million
passed


Debt exclusion
Debt Exclusion for $153,000 for NRSD deficit (10-year)
$153,000
passed


Dec. 8, 2003
2004
Question One: Underride for $771,750
*Because Question Two on ballot for larger underride also passed, that figure prevailed; Question One, which would have retained $261,000 in excess levy capacity, became moot when Question Two passed by 4-vote margin.
$771,750
passed *



Question Two: Underride for $1,032,724
$1,032,724
passed *
Nov. 2, 2004
One-year override for annuity for McNamara family plus town health insurance
$600,000
defeated
Feb. 7, 2005
McNamara health insurance benefits for family

passed
May 9, 2005
2006
General override for $150,000 $150,000
defeated
defeated
= Failed
passed
= Passed in bold
* Note: Debt exclusion overrides passed to fund the town library renovation and expansion, public safety / police building, Lancaster Elementary school building/ Middle School renovation and Nashoba Regional High School renovation and espansion.Those overrides are temporary and are removed from the tax rate once the debts as discharged