An Open Letter to Melrose Renters

(This letter was first published here)

Dear Melrose Renters,

On April 2nd, 2019 (this coming Tuesday) the City of Melrose is heading to the polls to vote on the Proposition 2.5 Override Vote. This vote affects you, as renters, in many ways. However, you have a voice in this decision.

I am like you. I rent in Melrose, along with my wife and 3 year old son. The reasons I chose Melrose are simple: I love our community, downtown, access to public transit, centrality to interstates, and our public schools. I love that we have trash pick up. I love our cities flair for parades, fairs, and ceremonies. I love that regardless of faith, nationality, color of skin, class, gender, orientation, or age this community is open to all.

And on April 2nd, I’m voting YES to the override.

As renters, we are a burden to this city. We consume city services without directly contributing to the property taxes. Rental properties have a higher population density as well. This means, more people in a smaller footprint. More people forming families. More families having children. More children entering the school system. Seniors benefit too! Melrose has fantastic senior centers and communities that make it affordable to live in Melrose.

However, one thing we have in common with the home owners? We can all vote. We’re residents, neighbors, and community members equally. We can have our opinions heard and our vote counted just like every other resident of Melrose. Big or small. Renter or Homeowner. One of the beauty’s of our democracy.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s been really hard to not notice that something big is happening this week. The Mayor and pretty much every single elected official (except for 2 Alderman) support the Melrose Override. The city has also made its case, publishing multiple front page explanations in the city newspapers, its website, and numerous Patch articles.

In a nutshell, thanks to Proposition 2.5, which is a property tax cap that Massachusetts imposed in 1980, there is a limit to how much municipalities can increase property taxes year over year. Two and half percent is that limit. Since then, the inflation rate has outpaced the ability for municipalities, like Melrose, to raise funds with which to operate. Now, the law for Prop 2.5 had enough foresight of eventualities to also allow municipalities to override the tax cap in order to raise more money for larger expenses or budget shortcomings. The last time an override succeeded in Melrose was in 1992. Fast forward to 2019, and Melrose has not successfully passed an override. Reasons for failure vary, but the most recent attempt was in 2017.

Will our rent go up?

The question of whether our rent will go up, has to be a question that we ask ourselves every lease, every year, or even every month, if you’re on month to month. Of course rents go up. Basic Economics 101. Supply and Demand. The more market demand goes up and the less supply in Melrose for living options; rents will go up. Regardless of overrides. Regardless of property taxes.

Will our rent go up because of the override?

You might have received a flyer from opponents to the Melrose Override making the suggestion that your rent will go up if you vote for the override. This is a scare tactic. In fact, this demonstrates even more the importance of your vote on Tuesday. There is no data or statistical analysis that has been done which directly correlates passing overrides to the increase in rent.

It is plausible, and likely, that included in your rent is a proration of the total property tax bill. After all, landlords are business people. As cost of goods sold goes up, so does the price of those goods (going back to Economics 101). But like every other lease, year, or month, there’s always a chance that our rent will go up.

How much might our rent go up?

The answer to this question depends on the value of the property that you’re living in. However, the City of Melrose Tax Assessor provides a free calculator that you can use to look up how much more the property tax will be assessed because of the override. As an example, I looked up my address. This override is adding $664 for the fiscal year of 2019. That’s an additional $55.34 per month. I live in a two unit house, occupying the owner’s unit. If I were to make this a flat share with the neighbor downstairs, that’s $27.67/month more for my rent. However, our unit is twice as large as the unit below. So, I would expect to add $36.88 more to my rent.

Unfortunately, there’s usually no transparency and while doing the math indicates what your rent might go up, your landlord/property owner has full discretion to increase the rent as they see fit. That is why, as in any negotiation, it’s is imperative that we talk to our landlord/property owners. Understand their interests and positions. Be proactive. Be supportive.

What if I’m low-income, senior citizen, or Veteran?

The city offers a number of tax relief options. There are programs that help low-income residents, Veterans. and senior citizens. If you’re living in senior/subsidized housing in Melrose, the override will NOT affect your rent pricing. For more information, contact the Melrose Housing Authority. For all Real Estate tax exemption information, visit: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/assessor/pages/real-estate-tax-exemptions

Where will the money go?

As listed on the ballot question:

• $1,905,000 - General operation of the Melrose Public Schools for additional classroom, teachers, and staff.
• $675,000 - Classroom and infrastructure needs
• $750,000 - Supplementing the operating budget of the Public Schools
• $1,850,000 - Classroom, Teacher, and Other District Staff compensation.

What happens if the override doesn’t pass?

On February 13th, the Mayor announced what services would be cut or have budget reduced. Those reductions in budget and affects include, but not limited to:

• $303,500 cut from the Department of Public Works
  • Eliminating 3 positions
  • Cutting yard hours, street sweeping, school outreach program, and eliminating the Main Street beautification.
  • Cut road and sidewalk repairs and mowing.
• $164,978 cust from the City Hall departments
  • Eliminating 1 position
  • Eliminating commission budgets, canceling online permitting
  • Suspending Mayor community events (such as the Victorian Fair), Kindergarten Night, and Memorial Day parade.
• $48,214 cut from the Council on Aging
  • Limit Milano hours to 8am to 1pm
  • Cut transportation by 70%
  • Reduce staff to 2 hours per week
• $163,310 cut from the Melrose Public Library
  • Will likely lose accreditation with cuts
  • Eliminate 11 highschool age pages
  • Close on Sunday year round
  • Cut program budget by 70%
• $138,000 cut from the Melrose Police Department
  • Reassign 3 special duty positions
  • Eliminate 1 patrol officer
• $62,954 cut from Memorial Hall
  • Eliminate all fee waivers and discounts for nonprofits
  • Eliminate Monday through Thursday rentals
  • Cut cleaning and maintenance by 50%
  • Suspend all repairs

Our voice matters as renters

Join me and thousands of other Melrose voters as we head to the polls on Tuesday for this very special election. There is just One Melrose. There is just One Future. And there is just One Question. that we as residents of this city have to answer. I hope you join me and other renters, as we VOTE YES.

Sincerely,

Peter Navarra - Proud Melrose Renter, Resident, and Community Member