Voters OK Tax Overrides For Affordable Housing, Our Island Home, & More

Nantucket voters were in a giving mood on Tuesday. All but one spending proposal requiring a temporary tax increase - known as a debt exclusion override - were approved at the polls by wide margins. That included nearly $20 million for affordable housing initiatives, another $8.5 million for the design of a new Our Island Home nursing facility off South Shore Road, and $5.6 million for new athletic facilities at the Nantucket Public Schools.

The only spending proposal that did not pass muster with voters on Tuesday was a $6 million debt exclusion override for the design of a new town hall building at the municipal property at 2 Fairgrounds Road. The project was turned down at Town Meeting last week.

All told, the 2,374 island residents who turned out to vote on Tuesday endorsed $57.9 million in temporary tax increases to pay for 10 separate capital projects. The overrides will mean an increase of $285.50 on the average year-round property tax bill, and $171.79 for the average year-round property owner with the residential exemption.

BALLOT QUESTION RESULTS:

Question 1: Design for new Our Island Home funding, $8.5 million

Yes: 1,621 ✅
No: 673
Question 2: Replacement Harbormaster Building, Supplemental Funding, $2 millionYes: 1,499 ✅
No: 752
Question 3: Repaving Pleasant, Sidewalk Reconstruction funding, $2 millionYes: 1,690 ✅
No: 584
Question 4: Repairs to LORAN barracks facility, $4.5 millionYes: 1,467 ✅
No: 756
Question 5: Nantucket Public Schools athletic facilities, $5.6 millionYes: 1,413 ✅
No: 851
Question 6: Central Municipal Facility Design At Fairgrounds Road, $6 millionYes: 843
No: 1,362 ✅
Question 7: Construction of seasonal town employee housing, $8.5 millionYes: 1,584 ✅
No: 666
Question 8: PFAS groundwater soil investigation, $2 millionYes: 1,759 ✅
No: 487
Question 9: Acquisition of 10-12 Washington Street, $4.75 millionYes: 1,295 ✅
No: 890
Question 10: Debt exclusion override for affordable housing, $10 millionYes: 1,560 ✅
No: 698
Question 11: Capital outlay for various equipment and vehicles, $1.176 millionYes: 1,522 ✅
No: 708
Question 12: Charter amendment on mailing of Town Meeting warrantYes: 1,734 ✅
No: 430
Question 13: Water main extension west of airportYes: 1,738 ✅
No: 496