Melrose Prop 2 1/2 Override Vote: What To Know, Polling Locations

MELROSE, MA — On Tuesday, April 2, Melrose will decide whether to approve a $5.18 million override to provide revenue city officials say is desperately needed for the schools.

Override supporters, including Mayor Gail Infurna and most other prominent city officials, have said if it does not pass, the budget deficit will have to be made up with cuts from school and other city services.

Override opponents, many preaching accountability and belt-tightening, have questioned how the city has found itself with such a striking budget gap.

The ballot question will read as follows:

Shall the City of Melrose be allowed to assess an additional $5,180,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purposes of the general operation of the Melrose Public Schools for Additional Classroom Teachers and Staff ($1,905,000); Classroom and Infrastructure Needs ($675,000); Supplementing the Operating Budget of the Public Schools ($750,000); and for Classroom Teacher and Other District Staff Compensation ($1,850,000), for which the monies from this assessment will be used for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019.

The city said the override would cost $554 per year in additional property taxes for the average Melrose single-family residence, which has an assessed value of $538,000.

Get a detailed breakdown of how the city said the funds would be used here.

See some of the voices on both sides of the issue below:

• Melrose's Expectations Not In Line With Financial Reality: DeSelm
• Lipper-Garabedian Is All In On The Override: Here's Why
• Voting 'Yes' On Override Is Smart Financial Move: Mortimer
• Invest In Our Community: Zwirko
• Brodeur, Lewis Back Override

• A Tale of Two Alderman (At Large)
• Focus On Finances, Not Past Grievances
• What OneMelrose Failed To Mention
• What The MTA Fails To Mention
• Melrose MUST Stick To Its Current Budget
• OneMelrose Library Position Is Misleading
• Real Data, Real Comparisons
• Melrose Public Library: A Trustee's Perspective
• Our Community's Best Resource
• Dear Mayor, A Question About Taxes

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Much like a traditional election, polls for will be open from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. The polling locations are:

• Ward 1 Precinct 1 Roosevelt School 253 Vinton Street @ Brunswick Park
• Ward 1 Precinct 2 Steele House 1 Nason Drive
• Wrd 2 Precinct 1 Horace Mann School 40 Damon Avenue
• Ward 2 Precinct 2 Horace Mann School 40 Damon Avenue
• Ward 3 Precinct 1 Beebe School 263 West Foster Street
• Ward 3 Precinct 2 Beebe School 263 West Foster Street
• Ward 4 Precinct 1 City Hall 562 Main Street [Aldermanic Chambers]
• Ward 4 Precinct 2 Winthrop School 162 First Street [@ Ashcroft Road]
• Ward 5 Precinct 1 Lincoln School 80 West Wyoming Avenue
• Ward 5 Precinct 2 Lincoln School 80 West Wyoming Avenue
• Ward 6 Precinct 1 City Hall 562 Main Street [Aldermanic Chambers]
• Ward 6 Precinct 2 Winthrop School 162 First Street [@ Ashcroft Road]
• Ward 7 Precinct 1 Hoover School Glendower Road [Enter Echo Street]
• Ward 7 Precinct 2 Hoover School Glendower Road [Enter Echo Street]