Citizens for a Fiscally Responsible Belmont 6/26/26 Citizens for a Fiscally Responsible Belmont 6/26/26

Town Meeting Ambush

Town Meeting members were ambushed in June by last minute articles requesting approval for significant “one-time” funds. While there were other questionable appropriations; for example, $65,000 to acquire a private sewer line from a party which owes the town permitting fees and repair reimbursement, this email focuses on the two largest appropriations. These were:

$1.3 million for temporary and permanent easements for the Community Path. This may include takings of private property by eminent domain.
$500,000 in bonus payments to Education Department staff.

Robie White 4/12/26 Robie White 4/12/26

Belmont’s Financial Reality Requires Discipline

Belmont homeowners don’t need another slogan or reassurance. They need straight talk—because the numbers are flashing red.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s FY2026 data, Belmont now ranks eighth highest in the state for average property taxes at $19,579 per household.

Marie Warner 11/23/25 Marie Warner 11/23/25

Belmont Schools’ Bite of the Budget

The BEA (Belmont Education Association) recently circulated a piece in which the school’s portion of the General Fund budget is stated to be 42% of the total. That 42% figure significantly understates how much of Belmont’s General Fund goes to schools. The 42% figure is incorrect and only reflects part of the total expenditure.

Judith Feinleib, TMM Precinct 6 - Guest Author 9/25/25 Judith Feinleib, TMM Precinct 6 - Guest Author 9/25/25

IF I MAY: Keeping Belmont’s Democracy Alive

In one of the more recent iterations of what appears to be an escalating effort to squelch differing opinions, Select Board members have dismissed the efforts of Doug Koplow, a Precinct 6 Town Meeting Member (TMM) and head of the Cushing Square Neighborhood Association (CSNA) as obstructionist and even suggested that he does not understand aspects of the proposed Belmont Center Overlay by-law.

Citizens for a Fiscally Responsible Belmont 7/15/25 Citizens for a Fiscally Responsible Belmont 7/15/25

Belmont’s Community Path

Proposed Community Path: The proposed Community Path has been under consideration for the past twenty years, and state funding deadlines are approaching.

Concern about compromised due diligence of Phase 1 design in the rush to secure funding
Belmont taxpayers have already funded $2million for Phase 1 design
Potential for an additional $5million Belmont taxpayer money needed for Phase 1