OneMelrose Committee Signing Off

As Melrose proceeds through the final stages of its annual budget process, the work of OneMelrose has come to a close. We formed almost a year ago as a grassroots committee of Melrose residents supporting the passage of a Proposition 2 1/2 override ballot question. With this community’s vote on April 2, we found success! Our city is positioned to finalize an annual operating budget with an additional $5.18 million, avoiding drastic cuts to the city services we value most and providing critical revenue for our underfunded schools. Thank you again to all who engaged with the OneMelrose campaign. Because of you, we were able to ensure that every voter understood the stakes and made an informed choice on election day.

The OneMelrose ballot committee is finalizing our accounts, filing required reports, and shutting down our formal organization. In doing this, we can report a financial surplus and have decided to donate all excess OneMelrose funds to the Melrose Emergency Fund. The purpose of the Emergency Fund is to provide one-time help to Melrose residents experiencing financial emergencies. The fund depends entirely on donations from the public and there is no overhead. This donation will close the books on our committee and provide support for members of our community in need. We are grateful for the financial support of so many individuals for the OneMelrose campaign. Thank you.

Despite the formal closing of the organization OneMelrose, we remain committed to the spirit of our campaign. It now becomes our collective responsibility as individual citizens to remain engaged in our community and connected with our city leaders, and to maintain high expectations for our city government practices and decisions. Follow your elected officials on social media. Reach out to city leaders to express support, ask questions, and share concerns. Tune in to government meetings and participate in the annual budget process. Connect with your neighbors. Attend community events. Advocate for what you care about. We are all in it together. That is the commitment of OneMelrose that continues after our organization ends. We are counting on you!

So with that, see you around town OneMelrose.

With tremendous gratitude, The OneMelrose Committee signs off.

Lisa Lewis, Co-Chair
Alison Sarnoski, Co-Chair
Paul Carroll
Jessica Dugan
Dave Eckler
Mark Garipay
Jen Grigoraitis
Sam Hammar
Matt Hartman
Ellen McGlynn
Julia Motl Lowe
Sarah Waywell Timm
Eric Wildman