Override Questions Answered at Neighborly OneMelrose Info Session

Last week amid holiday baking, decorating the Christmas tree, and party planning, I attended an informational session about the Proposition 2 ½ override ballot question at a neighbor’s suggestion. It was one of the best things I did that week.

The gathering was sponsored by OneMelrose—a grassroots organization made up of Melrose residents who are supporting passage of the Proposition 2 ½ override ballot question. The gathering was a welcomed chance to take a break from holiday planning and participate in frank, honest talk with my neighbors about what passing an override would mean for our city.

Proposition 2 ½ became law in Massachusetts in 1982 to give residents more control over budget growth. The law limits city and town tax rate increases to 2.5% of the total value of property taxes collected each year. It also gives residents the power to add to that amount when needed through a tax override.

Prop 2 ½ became law during the “Massachusetts Miracle” when state revenues were soaring and state aid was aplenty. But times have changed. State funding has been slashed and only recently started to slowly replenish, our student population is booming, and Melrose teacher salaries are among the lowest of the Commonwealth.

Many cities and towns like Melrose, whose revenues come largely from residential property taxes, such as Lynnfield, Arlington, and Reading, are experienced with passing overrides to increase teacher pay and meet enrollment needs. However, we in Melrose have passed only one operating override and have not done so since the MHS class of 1992 graduated. On April 2, 2019, we will have a chance to go to the polls to vote for an override that will address these issues.

During the meeting, one resident was concerned that passing an override would open the floodgates. She feared that tax levels would rise above what she and her friends could afford. She was relieved to learn that Proposition 2 ½ is not a vote for a blank check; rather it requires residents to vote for a specific amount above the 2.5% increase.

Another question that came up was, “How much will the override cost me?” The answer depends on the assessed value of your property. For example, a $450,000 home would likely pay an additional $460 per year in taxes. To get an estimate of your personal tax impact, visit the Assessor’s page on CityofMelrose.org or visit: http://bit.ly/mytaximpact

Many of us wanted to know what the additional revenue will fund. In short, it will fund the hiring of additional high school, middle school and elementary school teachers to effectively educate our city’s growing student population. It will also fund new teaching materials, enable the city to reopen the Beebe school, and raise teacher salaries to help retain and attract quality teachers. The city has posted details of what the override will fund in the Ballot Question Summary available here:http://bit.ly/overridesummary. You can also find these details by visiting the Meeting Agenda Portal page of CityofMelrose.org. Find the November 8, 2018, Board of Aldermen Special Meeting and click on “Override-BallotQuestionSummary.”

Passing an override will help other city services as well. The additional revenue will finally allow the city to return to a fully funded school operating budget. No more taking the city’s “free cash” from the city budget to plug holes in school funding. That money could be used to pay for, say, fixing aging fire trucks or police cruisers.

Despite the busyness of the season, I was glad I took the time to listen to my neighbors and discuss the needs of our city. I supported the last override effort, and now it is clearer than ever to me that our schools are underfunded, and our students need us to pay for the education they deserve. I will vote in favor of a tax override on April 2 and I hope you will too.

If you want to learn more about the override, visit OneMelrose.org. There you’ll find information about the April override ballot question, upcoming OneMelrose events, and links to the Mayor’s blog post series on the city budget.

And, if you get invited to a OneMelrose neighborhood house party or informational session, please go. What you learn might surprise you.

Elizabeth Christopher is a Melrose resident and mother of three children attending Melrose public schools.