VOTE NO ON QUESTION 1
Dennis-Yarmouth Schools — Permanent Proposition 2½ Override
PERMANENT. No sunset clause. No expiration. Once passed, your tax levy ceiling is raised forever.
WHAT QUESTION 1 DOES
Question 1 asks Yarmouth voters to permanently raise the property tax levy by $1,481,348 to fund the Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District operating budget of $47.4 million (FY2027).
This is not a one-time increase. Under Proposition 2½, a permanent override is added to the tax levy base and then compounds at 2.5% every year, forever. There is no vote to renew it. There is no expiration date. Once passed, the only way to remove it is another ballot vote to reduce the levy — which almost never happens.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Override amount | $1,481,348 |
| Type | Permanent operating override |
| Sunset clause | NONE |
| FY2027 D-Y assessment (Yarmouth share) | $47,358,178 |
| Current tax rate | $6.97 per $1,000 |
| Tax rate increase | +$0.13 per $1,000 |
| Finance Committee recommendation | YES (6-1) |
This budget includes $1.69 million for ELL (English Language Learner) programs serving 371 students. That is $4,555 per ELL student per year, paid by Yarmouth property taxpayers.
TAX IMPACT CALCULATOR
Enter your property’s assessed value to see what this override will cost you. Your assessed value is on your tax bill or at the Yarmouth Assessor’s website.
Yarmouth average single-family home: $710,000 (Town Finance Committee)
WHAT THEY TELL YOU vs. WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS
| What they say | The reality |
|---|---|
| “It’s only $90 per year” | Year 1 only. It compounds at 2.5% annually. In 20 years you have paid thousands. |
| “It’s for the kids” | $1.69M goes to ELL programs for 371 students. The rest backfills a budget the district failed to manage within existing revenue. |
| “The Finance Committee recommends it” | 6-1 vote. One member dissented. And the Finance Committee does not pay your mortgage. |
| “Other towns passed theirs” | Other towns are also losing residents to New Hampshire and Florida. Being popular does not make it affordable. |
Not every voter pays property taxes — but every voter gets to raise them.
Source: 2026 Annual Town Meeting Warrant, Yarmouth Finance Committee Report. Paid for by the Cape Cod Coalition for Safe Communities for Citizens.