Whately Boards Approve $800,000 Override Question for May 2 Ballot

WHATELY — March 26, 2026 — Whately's Select Board and Finance Committee jointly approved an $800,000 Proposition 2½ override question for the May 2 town ballot. The two boards met jointly for roughly 20 minutes Thursday evening, voting unanimously to adopt the override question language after a minor wording amendment changed "operating budgets of the town" to "operating budgets of general government and the schools," a change suggested by a participant identified as Wendy and described as better matching standard state templates. The chair shared preliminary tax impact figures estimating the override would add $546 per year — about $45 per month — to the bill for a household at the town's median assessed value of roughly $5,105 annually before the override. A resident speaking in public comment urged passage, noting the proposed senior center at 112 Amherst Road — described as "decades" in the making — is funded within the override and fails if the ballot question does not pass. Town meeting is April 24; the election is May 2.