HATFIELD — Voters approved a Proposition 2½ debt-exclusion override to fund Town Hall renovations by 169 votes Tuesday.
The vote passed 1,060 in favor to 891 opposed.
“That’s great news for all,” Select Board member Marcus Boyle said.
Question 5 asked voters to allow an exemption from Proposition 2½ to fund the $1 million required for a second phase of Town Hall renovations.
The project includes construction of an exterior ramp, an elevator and a fire suppression system to bring the historic building at 59 Main St. up to code.
Boyle explained the project would improve accessibility for people with disabilities and the increasing number of seniors in town. He added that it also protects a very important asset.
At a special Town Meeting in October, residents authorized the $1 million debt-exclusion to pay for the project. That vote was 86 to 33 in favor.
In May, the then-$850,000 project failed at Town Meeting and in the town election.
The $1 million will be paired with $690,000 the town has available in prior funding authorizations, according to Town Administrator Marlene Michonski.
Using a 3.5 percent prime interest rate over a 20-year period, Town Treasurer Laura Lee Bertram estimated an annual $45.50 tax increase to an average single-family house assessed at $350,000, or $13 per $100,000 of property valuation.
The exact tax increase “is not written in stone,” according to Bertram, as a municipality typically pays less than the prime interest rate. The actual interest rate the town would receive on borrowing wouldn’t be known until it went out to bid.
Resident Lary Grossman, an outspoken opponent of Question 5 called the vote a “real loss” for Hatfield.
“I think it is really unfortunate. I think it is a waste of money,” Grossman said.
“It was presented as a short-term tax override. What they didn’t tell the people was that short term was 20 years,” he continued. “I think many of us may not be alive when this tax increase ends.”
Earlier Tuesday evening, resident Barry Elbaum voted in favor of the override saying that constant investment was necessary for healthy towns.
“I think that Hatfield is a fairly well-run community and fiscally (I) don’t have any serious criticisms,” Elbaum said.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.