Voters approve debt reduction in Oxford

lowering tax rate;
add state aid to school budget

by Janet Stoica
Patriot Correspondent

OXFORD - Town Moderator Russell Rheault gaveled the October 3 Town Meeting to order at 7 p.m. and Town Clerk Lori Kelley read the relatively short list of Articles that the 163 Oxford Town Voters would be voting on.

Article 1 was to hear reports from any town officers or committees. As none were given, Moderator Rheault moved on to Article 2, which asked voters to amend the vote taken at the May 2 Town Meeting, decreasing the appropriation of the FY 2013 Debt Financing Account from $1,603,635 to $857,917.

Town Manager Joseph Zeneski explained that board had refinanced the debt on one of the elementary schools and the Massachusetts School Building Authority offered to give Oxford a lump sum reimbursement, thereby reducing the original debt. Voters approved the debt reduction, which will reduce the tax rate by $0.10/thousand.

Article 3 was to obtain voter approval for an amendment of a vote originally taken at the May 2 Town Meeting. This amendment would increase the appropriation for the FY 2013 School General Account from $14,948,356 to $15,074,110. As the State Legislature appropriated $125,754 more in state aid than expected for in-town schools only, the monies would be targeted for the school operating budget. Voters unanimously approved the amendment of this article as well.