Malden Mayor Addresses Override Vote Failure

MALDEN, MA — Mayor Gary Christenson spoke publicly with the City Council for the first time since the Proposition 2 1/2 tax override was voted down by residents in a special election.

Christenson acknowledged the results and said that despite the narrow margin by which the vote did not pass, he respects the wishes of his constituents.

“There is no interest in revisiting the past, only a continued commitment to building a stable and sustainable financial foundation for Malden,” Christenson said during the Council’s most recent meeting. “I remain hopeful that we can set aside our differences and work together in the best interest of our community.”

The proposition of an override was brought forth to the council by Mayor Gary Christenson and the Finance Committee in December, marking the first time in Malden’s history that a tax override of this nature has ever been approved to even be put on a ballot for the community to decide. Voters were given two options: a $5.4 million or $8.2 million override. The higher-numbered option would be implemented in the instance of both questions passing. However, the option to enact no tax increase at all was ultimately chosen by only 124 votes.

Christenson said he and his team are currently putting together an operating budget for Fiscal Year 2027.

“Any representation that the budget situation is significantly better than what was presented, is simply unsubstantiated by the facts,” Christenson said. “This unfortunately an inherently imprecise process and one that remains a moving target.”

He named factors such as an increase to the tuition the city pays for the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical School in Wakefield and a reduction of more than $5 million in state education aid as reasons for why an override was needed.

Christenson emphasized that without the override, staffing cuts will be made throughout major city departments.

“We are working with department heads to address the cuts that will need to be made,” Christenson said.

Christenson did reference the correction of a reporting error on a net school spending line item of $1.6 million, saying the deficit is still significant regardless.

See Also:

2nd Malden City Councilor Making Run For State Senate

Protestors Gather Outside Of Congresswoman's Malden Office

Malden Salon Says Goodbye After 50 Years Of Styling

Malden Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Overtime Fraud Charge

Malden Teenager 1 Of 5 Juveniles Arrested At Panera Bread In Boston

New Principal Named For Malden High School

Malden City Councilor Announces State Senate Campaign

Malden Teacher And Coach Charged With Rape Pleads Not Guilty