CFRB - Citizens for a Fiscally Responsible Belmont

02/07/2025

The Belmont Voice June 27 issue included an article entitled "Decision to Ban Political Groups from Town Day Sparks Sharp Debate". The following, sent to the Voice editor, is the CFRB response to that Voice article and to a follow-up resident letter published online by The Voice.

At the June 23rd Select Board meeting, Member Taylor Yates mischaracterized Citizens for a Fiscally Responsible Belmont (CFRB) as a “political activist” group. Since The Voice reported that quote, CFRB is compelled to clarify our status to Voice readers. CFRB is not a “political group” nor a “political activist” group. Rather, CFRB works to serve all taxpayers and residents with our efforts to inform, educate and promote fiscal responsibility and government transparency - these efforts appeal to all parties.

In response to an email query (available through public records) from Select Board Member Yates on Friday, June 20, CFRB President Dawn MacKerron clarified in writing that CFRB is not a political group. Yates acknowledged that clarification, also in writing. It’s unfortunate that Select Board member Yates chose to publicly misrepresent CFRB in the Select Board Meeting three days later.

A resident’s letter to the Voice cites CFRB involvement in opposing the override as political. We strongly disagree. The Town’s need to control spending transcends partisan boundaries and aligns with the CFRB mission to advocate for fiscal responsibility.

Here is our mission: “CFRB is a non-partisan, grass-roots group of concerned citizens who serve Belmont residents by working to increase accountability, responsibility and transparency in all aspects of town government.” CFRB is incorporated as a Massachusetts 501c4 social welfare organization and is not a political group.

17/11/2024

Carol Berberian, member of the Belmont Planning Board and Town Meeting Member summarizes the 3A Maps and amendments before Town Meeting this week. Listen for a clear, impactful analysis. (20 minutes)

10/01/2023

Belmontonian Neighbors -- Is your tax bill unfairly high? Visit our blog to understand the Belmont Abatement Process. https://www.cfrbbelmont.org/blog-3

View the 19-minute video, recorded with the Belmont Media Center and drop in for a live Q&A on January 17 - anytime from 5:30 to 7:00. Email [email protected] for details and Zoom link.

Marie Warner 1/8/23 Marie Warner 1/8/23 Tax Abatement Process - How-to Video Many Belmontonians believe that their real estate taxes are “unfairly” high — that is, the assessed value of their property (land plus buildings) is too high — higher than the valuation of similar homes (comparables...

18/09/2022

CFRB Fights for Belmont Taxpayers – and Wins

Citizens for a Fiscally Responsible Belmont joined forces with other taxpayer advocate groups to fight for the refund of your state tax payments according to a decades-old law, Chapter 62F. This week the state auditor announced that $3 billion would be returned to taxpayers here in Belmont and throughout the state.

Chapter 62F specifies return of taxes to you, the taxpayer, in the instance of an excess state surplus, and Massachusetts tax collections yielded a $5 billion surplus this past fiscal year.

When Governor Baker announced this surplus, state leaders’ initial reaction was to seek to keep the money from the Massachusetts taxpayer. CFRB President Dawn MacKerron and Vice President Marie Warner agreed to be among plaintiffs should a lawsuit be required to uphold the law, and a coalition of other fiscal responsibility advocates notified the state that taxpayers were prepared to fight for this rebate. Click below to read the press release and this quote from CFRB President Dawn MacKerron.

“As advocates for our local Belmont taxpayers, we support the effort to uphold Chapter 62F of Massachusetts law as it applies to Massachusetts taxpayers. Citizens for a Fiscally Responsible Belmont protects and advocates for Belmont’s taxpayers. We are proud to lend our names and support to this effort should there be resistance to enforcing that law and to returning hard-earned money to Massachusetts taxpayers,” stated Dawn MacKerron, President of Citizens for a Fiscally Responsible Belmont.

With the certification of the surplus, plus the threat of a taxpayer lawsuit Beacon Hill leaders backed down and the Governor has announced plans for the distribution of the refunds. This planning is still underway; Click below for a 62F Rebate calculator on the state website to estimate your tax refund amount.

Press Release https://www.massfiscal.org/taxpayer-organizations-united-prepared-court

Refund Calculator https://www.mass.gov/info-details/chapter-62f-taxpayer-refunds

25/06/2022

Belmont Projects and your Taxes - Time to Think Different

It’s time for Belmont town and school officials to “think different” (with a nod to the old Apple ad campaign.) It’s time for Belmont town and school officials to “think smarter”.

Belmont residents are strong supporters of our town and have proven over the years that they recognize increased taxes are needed to maintain and to upgrade our assets and infrastructure. Belmont officials must respect that support by proposing only those capital projects whose initial and ongoing costs to the taxpayer are within capital budget amounts that are approved by the taxpayers in advance of any project plan being initiated. What’s more, Belmont officials should present viable alternatives for these capital projects to town residents, rather than single-threaded, outsized proposals that demand a never-ending series of one-off debt exclusions and overrides. Rather, alternatives with a range of “price-tags” should be presented to all voters, not one reflecting the wish list of special interest groups.
Read more here: https://www.cfrbbelmont.org/blog-3

06/06/2022

Here's an important fact - and cost - for above ground fuel storage tanks (AST). This cost was underestimated in Glenn Clancy's presentation, as he explains to the Warrant Committee on May 25. It is required that any AST must be fenced, which means fencing in the entire DPW yard. Fencing is NOT a requirement for underground storage tanks. Mr. Clancy explains his new estimate for fencing is $200K, not $70K