Melrose's Tenuous Financial Position At Center Of Override Talks

MELROSE, MA — The Proposition 2 1/2 override question getting in front of voters isn't a done deal yet - even after hours of public comment and discussion at Tuesday night's Appropriations Committee meeting.

The committee moved the item to the full Board of Aldermen - perhaps to be voted on Monday night. The Board is expected to decide whether to put the $5.18 million question proposed by Mayor Gail Infurna to the voters on April 2, 2019.

Tuesday night's meeting follows months of Infurna gathering feedback for a potential override and educating the public on city finances. Apparently, she reached a lot of ears.

The meeting drew 60 or so people, many of whom argued for and some against the override question hitting the ballot as currently proposed. Alderman Peter Mortimer more than once dragged out extra seating - including a bench - during public comment to accommodate the crowd gathering at the entrance.

The city was slapped with a cold dose of reality over the summer, when funding for the school budget fell well short and the student enrollment increase showed no signs of slowing. It wasn't much of a surprise - School Committee member Lizbeth DeSelm had initially brought up the possibility of an override in April - but it appeared to take some sleight of hand to pass the budget.

Now the outlook for the next fiscal year is looking dire, City Solicitor Robert Van Campen said.

"FY20 is looking like an extraordinary difficult fiscal year for the city," he said.

Van Campen said the override proposal sat upon three pillars: A school population that is reaching "historic" numbers; raising salaries to retain staff; and expanding space, including reclaiming the Beebe School.

>>>Read the details of the proposed override.

Depending on what happens with the Beebe School, families may even have the opportunity to more freely choose which school their children attend, Superintendent Cyndy Taymore said, while warning against any concrete plans this early in the process.

But one thing is certain.

"I am out of space, there is no denying it," Taymore said.

City Auditor Patrick Dello Russo also touched on Melrose's tenuous financial position, asking how the city will survive when an economic downturn comes around without extra revenue if it can't keep pace when things are going relatively well - especially as federal and state aid dwindles.

"We are not going to have an Amazon coming to Melrose," he said to some chuckles. "It's not going to happen."

Alderman Monica Medeiros was the only alderman present who didn't vote to send the order to the Board, saying she would like more details on the spending before feeling comfortable voting to set the special election. (Alderman Robert Boiselle wasn't present, so he didn't vote either.)

"This is a big ask for a lot of people and we should make sure we're getting it right," Medeiros said before later abstaining.

One of those who spoke in support of the override proposal had a unique perspective.

Alex Gillis, a Melrose High senior, said he's all in.

"I find a problem having a class with 30 students and then having a class with 14 students," he said.

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.

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.

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Photos by Mike Carraggi, Patch