A special Town Meeting is being requested for the Fall of 2008 by a newly formed group of concerned Acton citizens who have adopted the name --- the Acton Voters Group.

Their goal is to place an article on the town warrant at that Special Town Meeting to give voters a choice to return a portion of some $5 million of uncommitted town funds to the taxpayers so that a property tax increase will not be needed this fiscal year without cutting any approved budgets.

Specifically, this article will request that the Town of Acton transfer the sum of $2.4 million (the exact amount is $2,414,809) from the Recycling and Transfer Station Enterprise Fund (formerly known as the NESWC Enterprise Fund) into town revenues to reduce the tax rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2008 --- which, in effect, will result in no tax increase for property owners on their property tax bill.

Members of the public who wish to get involved are invited to attend the group's next meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at 7:30 pm, at the West Acton Baptist Church, 592 Massachusetts Ave. (Route 111) in West Acton.

"There are many citizens in Acton who are impacted by the continually rising property tax rates in our community, a situation only made worse by today’s troubling economy" said Acton Voters Group Chairman Clint Seward, "and we are proposing to give voters a choice that about half of the more than $5 million of uncommitted town funds be returned to town revenues so that no property tax increase will be needed in this fiscal year." Seward added that "this will not cause any budget cuts and every project voted for in the 2008 regular Town Meeting held this past April will move forward as planned."

Seward noted that this is not a new or novel move since town reserves such as free cash have been used to reduce the tax rate in the past. In the fiscal year that just ended, the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee and the School Committee agreed on the Acton Leadership Group plan to use $600,000 from free cash to reduce the amount that was raised from taxes, benefiting Acton taxpayers.

Seward said that a copy of the proposed article was personally delivered to the Acton Town Manager’s office, and that the Board of Selectmen, the Finance Committee and the School Committee have all been informed of this effort. Seward also requested that Acton Town Counsel review the wording of the article.

A team of volunteers will begin a town-wide petition signature drive beginning on July 12, 2008 and continuing through August 9, 2008 at various locations across Acton to obtain 200 verified signatures that are required to request a Special Town Meeting.

"This is all about choice," Seward said. "We are fortunate this year to have more than $5 million in free cash and transfer station funds which is uncommitted, and this Special Town Meeting will give voters an informed opportunity to use a portion of these funds for property tax relief without cutting budgets.

"We hope that Acton taxpayers will support this effort, sign the petition, attend the Special Town Meeting in the Fall, and vote in favor of the article" he added.

For further information visit: www.actonvotersgroup.com. The group's website contains a copy of the petition, answers frequently asked questions, and is developing an email list of supporters and volunteers. The group is also accepting donations from those who would benefit from a reduction in their FY2009 property tax bill.

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