Well, the votes are tallied and the results are in: Newton voters passed Mayor Setti Warren's $11.4 million override package.
During a special municipal election held yesterday, voters supported all three tax override questions, including an $8.4 million operating override and two debt exclusion overrides for the rebuilding of Angier and Cabot Elementary Schools.
What is your reaction to the override result? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
As for his reaction to the vote, Warren told Newton Patch Tuesday night he was "proud" of the Newton voters for the choice they made.
"I'm really proud of our community for making an investment in our future," Warren told Newton Patch.
Warren said he was not sure what to expect for voter turnout Tuesday, but was "confident Newton would make the right decision."
Thirty-two percent of Newton's registered voters turned out for yesterday's override decision, 15 percent fewer voters than the 2008 override election.
Moving Newton Forward Co-Chair Suzanne Szescila told Patch Tuesday night that the group will soon analyze its campaign and look toward more work in the future.
"I am glad that 8,000 residents voted against Question 1 and I am thrilled with all the great work that Moving Newton Forward managed to wedge into a few short weeks," Szescila said in an email.
Fellow Co-Chair Joshua Norman also said he is looking toward Newton's future.
"Our group has a lot to offer the city," Norman told Patch. "If they follow our ideas, we won't need another override. If they don't follow our ideas, they don't deserve another override."
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judy smith
7:24 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Newton home owners are now screwed. Now that the override passed I know alot of people who will be moving out of newton now, can't afford it. The people who helped pass it are non home owners, they are renters or get housing for free.
Stephanie
8:30 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I am a proud owner of a small house....i am looking forward to two new schools. yes yes yes.
Matthew
10:20 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Judy, I looked at the detailed results by ward, and your comments about renters don't appear to be supported by the data. A lot of the strongest support comes from areas with few renters. Personally, I'm a home owner in Newton, and I voted yes to all three questions!
George Zeliger
11:48 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
I am a renter and intentionally did not vote believing it is for the permanent residents to decide such issues.
Kristine Munroe
2:35 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
This Newton homeowner voted yes, yes, yes.
Janet Holly
10:45 pm on Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Janet Holly
I have lived in Newton all my life, but as I am a senior on a fixed income, too old to work, I wonder how many more years I can afford to live in Waban. Voters were too busy to think about the seniors who have no kids in schools, are house rice and income poor!! I reluctantly voted No No No! Government live within your means!
Martine C.
8:07 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
As a childfree Newton homeowner, I vote no, no, no. Since so many move to Newton now for the excellent public schools, our schools are now considered overcrowded. I feel personally punished for our schools being so good. It's time for our city to rethink who pays for the school system. There should be an annual fee assessed per child actively going to our schools. My thinking is that the anyone using the schools should be paying for the city services used. And that fee would still be much less than the cost of private schools. And yes, make Boston reimburse us for the services that their METCO students use.