Arlington 2026 Election: Tax Override Passes

ARLINGTON, MA —Voters have passed a Proposition 2 1/2 tax override, according to unofficial results from Saturday's election.

The override appears to have passed with a vote count of 9,666 in favor against 3,775 opposed. An override allows for a community to surpass the 2.5 percent annual increase for taxes on residents, and is done so to help supplement necessary infrastructure that the town's budget does not allow for. According to Town Manager Jim Feeney, the annual tax bill for an average single-family home would see an increase of approximately $1,030 annually with the override implemented. The passage of the override will reportedly enable the school district’s budget to increase by four percent annually through Fiscal Year 2029.

School Committee led the contested races this year with three first-time candidates vying for a one-year term. Crystal Haynes Copithorne appears to have defeated Shaun Berry for the position narrowly, receiving 4,556 votes to Berry's 4,240. Dmitry Vasilyev received 1,964.

Haynes Copithorne's family history in Arlington dates back multiple generations, and the Senior Director of Communications for the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and adjunct college professor said she looks to improve the district's ability to adhere to complex student needs and improve academic performance among certain demographics.

The other contested race was also tight, as incumbent Nicholas Mitropoulos has reportedly earned his fifth term as Arlington's Housing Authority by defeating challenger Jacob Deck. Mitropoulos won by receiving 5,005 votes over Deck's 4,717.

Joseph Solomon is poised to be the newest member of the Select Board, as the unopposed candidate received 7,978 votes on his way to his new position. Incumbent Diane Mahon remains the longest-tenured member as she received more than 9,000 votes in her unopposed candidacy.

Solomon is a Town Meeting member and vice chair of the Capital Planning Committee. He works as a process improvement leader for private companies.

School Committee incumbents Paul Schlichtmann, Elizabeth Exton, and Laura Gitelson will remain in their roles, earning more than 8,000 votes each, according to the unofficial results.

Rounding out the races is was that of Board of Assessors, in which long-time incumbent Mary Winstanley O'Connor re-upped her tenure with 8,695 votes of support.

In addition to the override, a second ballot question passed that will reportedly give the Select Board the ability to authorize two new alcohol licenses for businesses looking to sell product for off-premises consumption, with the ultimate goal of bringing new liquor stores to the town. The question passed relatively easily with 9,336 "yes" votes against only 3,755 choosing "no."

See Also:

Everything To Know For Arlington's 2026 Town Election