Saugus passes 1-time tax levy

SAUGUS – Residents of Saugus voted on Tuesday to approve a one-year property tax assessment that will close a $1.27 million snow removal deficit from this past winter.The ballot question passed with 2,118 votes for and 1,312 votes against for a total of 3,430 votes. Owners of median-assessed homes will now pay a one-time fee of $80.?We didn?t expect a big turnout, but I?m quite pleased with the 2-1 spread,” said Town Manager Andrew Bisignani. “It shows that when the message is presented properly, the people are taking a sincere interest in the community and they want to preserve the institutions in the town, particularly public education and public safety.”While just 18 percent of voters showed up to the polls on Tuesday, those who did were vocal in their decision.Patricia McLaughlin thought the one-time tax assessment made sense, since the town?s residential property tax rate is among the lowest in the region.?I voted yes because I think it?s the right thing to do,” said McLaughlin. “I don?t want to see the money come out of the schools. It was an unexpected bill. My son has a child who will be going to the Saugus schools so you have to think of that. I don?t want to see cuts anywhere. We have a bare-bones budget. We?ve got practically the lowest tax rate in the whole North Shore area so I think it?s fair and reasonable.”Connie Bova pays to have her private driveway cleared, and said she doesn?t feel she should be taxed for work that didn?t affect her and her neighbors.?I voted no because I live on a street where they don?t plow,” said Bova. “I have to pay to have someone come and plow for me. It?s a private driveway, but it?s four houses. It?s big enough for a plow to come up.”Marcia Ramonas echoed this sentiment, saying her husband along with their neighbors on Birch Street were out all winter shoveling the road.?It took two calls to the town to get our street plowed the way it needed to be plowed,” said Bova, who has lived in Saugus for 15 years. “The first time the plow came down the middle of the street and that was it. I have a handicap placard. My husband had to go out with our snow blower and plow the street in order for me to get into my driveway. I can?t see raising my property tax for work that was not completed. My whole street was out snow blowing.”For lifelong resident Alan Merritt, it would be impossible to predict such an extreme winter like the one that hit New England this year. So Merritt said he?d rather pay the one time assessment then see cuts to town services.?I don?t want to lose the fire department and the overtime for the police,” said Merritt. “That always seems to be the threat is to close down one of the fire stations and reduce the number of police. It was kind of an unusual winter. It was an awful lot of snow. You can?t expect the town to keep up with unforeseen expenses.”