Melrose's $5.18M Override Question Detailed

MELROSE, MA — The override ballot question would bring in more than $5 million to help Melrose buoy its school district as it struggles to keep pace with rapidly rising enrollment. The question would go to voters in the spring.

Mayor Gail Infurna detailed what the override would look like soon after calling for a special meeting of the Board of Alderman this Thursday, Nov. 8. She will ask the Board to schedule a special election for the ballot question on Tuesday, April 2.

The long-discussed question would ask residents to approve an override of Proposition 2 ½, which is a state law that limits a city’s year-to-year property tax increases to 2 1/2 percent.

"The proposal aims to address several factors that have contributed to the city’s budget challenges: increasing student enrollment, permanent reductions in state funding and the need to recruit and retain quality teachers," the City said in announcing the proposal.

The override would total $5.18 million, including:

• $1.905 million for adding teaching and school staff positions;
• $1.850 million for increasing salaries for Melrose Public School employees;
• $750,000 to eliminate the funding shortfall created by permanent reductions in state funding;
• $675,000 for classroom space and infrastructure.

You can get a detailed breakdown of how the funds would be used here.

>>>Related: Melrose School Enrollment Continues To Balloon

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

"We have been struggling to meet state-required minimum funding for our school district for years, at the expense of the other departments in the city," Infurna said. "Providing additional funding for the school district will stabilize our total city budget, enabling us to maintain valuable services throughout the city."

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Photo by Mike Carraggi