Town of Newbury Urges Residents to Participate in April 29 Town Meeting; Proposition 2 1/2 Override on the Warrant

NEWBURY – The Town of Newbury, Select Board, and Town Clerk Gretchen Girard urge all registered voters to attend Annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, April 29.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Triton Regional Middle High School Gym, 112 Elm St. Town Meeting is Newbury’s legislative body, and meets at least once a year to conduct the Town’s business, usually involving spending, bylaws, and policies.

This year’s Warrant includes a request for a $400,000 Proposition 2 ½ override to support an increase in assessments from Triton Regional School District and Whittier Tech. An approved override will permanently increase the tax levy.

Newbury’s Triton assessment is based on a state formula considering the Town’s “ability to pay” and the percentage of Triton students who live in Newbury.

The Triton request requires approval by two of the three member towns – Newbury, Salisbury, and Rowley. In Newbury, approval will require both acceptance at Town Meeting, and an affirmative vote in the May 13 Town Election.

The override request is supported by the Select Board and unanimously supported by the Finance Committee. The Warrant shares the following rationale: “This article permanently adds $400,000.00 to the Town’s levy capacity to fully fund the educational obligations. The Finance Committee agrees the schools need more funding and that an override is the best way to provide it. To pass, both this article and ballot Question 1 must be approved by a simple majority of voters.”

It is estimated the override will increase taxes by $134 to the owner of a median-valued home assessed at $925,279.

Articles include a $25,436,055 request for a general operating budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, changes to Town bylaws on short-term rentals, dog licensing, and special permits.