Saugus asks Legislature to push tax assessment

SAUGUS – Local officials are trying to gain support in the state Legislature for the one-time property tax assessment residents are being asked to pay to settle the town’s $1.1 million in winter snow-and-ice removal expenses.The Board of Selectmen has penned a letter to state Sen. Thomas McGee, Sen. Salvatore DiDomenico, Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein and Rep. Donald Wong, who is also chairman of the Saugus selectmen, asking they help expedite the town’s need to hold a special election as soon as possible.The selectmen on March 8 voted to call a Special Town Meeting for March 28. An article was inserted in the warrant to allow Town Meeting members to vote on whether to authorize the selectmen to petition the state Legislature for permission to hold a special election in the spring.The special election’s sole purpose is to give voters opportunity to approve or turn down a one-time property tax assessment to pay for the fiscal 2011 snow-and-ice removal costs. The assessment would average $80 per household.According to Wendy Reed, clerk to the selectmen, “It’s highly anticipated that the article will pass at the Special Town Meeting. Rep. Wong has agreed to file the legislation for Saugus. However, the board is asking for all our state delegation to assist in expediting passage of the legislation throughout the process.”Reed said board members hope the legislation will be fully enacted and signed into law by Gov. Deval Patrick prior to April 26, which would allow the town clerk to timely post for the special election.”We have been in conversation about this with members of the state delegation,” Town Manager Andrew Bisignani said Thursday. “We sent them a letter and they have absolutely agreed to help. Donald Wong is leading the way as a state representative.”Without the one-time assessment, balancing the fiscal 2012 town budget could require a Proposition 2 ? override, imposition of a trash fee or other means to generate revenue, according to the selectmen.A budget shortfall at the School Department has exacerbated the process.