NO OVERRIDE: Please consider before you cast your vote:
The 3-tiered question, by design, uses psychology to mislead and confuse voters.
The highest dollar amount wins, as long as it gets over 50% of the vote (even if a lower dollar amount gets a higher percentage of votes).
The mayor claims a $4 million shortfall for her proposed budget, yet is asking for up to $13 million.
Melrose voters already said NO to an override in June, 2024.
There are no guarantees on how the money will be used. Melrose voters approved an override in 2019, yet promises of how the money would be spent were not kept. The Beebe school was never opened and will now be a police station.
An override is a permanent, compounding tax increase that remains in place year after year, with no end date.
Debt exclusions are used for specific projects with a clear end date. Melrose is still paying off the middle school project, and we will start seeing an increase on our tax bills when we begin paying for the public service buildings in 2027 (an average of $875 per year per resident).
Melrose city taxes increase by 2.5% each year, compounded. A debt exclusion raises taxes above the 2.5% limit.
Proposition 2 ½ was passed in the early 1980’s to limit government overreach when the inflation rates reached 13%. Inflation is under 3% and predicted to continue to fall.
Melrose has only passed 2 overrides in 42 years, (the most recent in 2019), yet real estate values have skyrocketed and our public schools have a good reputation.
Overrides are unpopular: Since 1990, close to 60% of override votes have failed. Only 44% of cities and towns have held override votes since 2010.
If the override passes, it will be retroactive to July 1, 2025
In Fiscal Year 2022, there was a $2.2 million shortfall in the school budget that had to be borrowed from free cash after Mayor Gregoritis, then the city council president, was part of the leadership responsible for approving that fiscal year’s budget and oversight process. This was explained away as “an accounting error.” Now, she is asking for more money.
In FY 2025 there was close to $6 million available in free cash.
Melrose Public Schools student population is declining. It has gone from 3,947 to 3,666 since October, 2024 - a total of 281 students. Moreover, we never received the additional 400 students the city predicted in the last override.
According to data supplied by the Melrose Public Schools Administration, there have been more hires than retirements/resignations/terminations since August 2024.
Melrose has been well below the state average for per-pupil spending for decades, yet has a good reputation. According to PublicSchoolReview, Melrose ranks in the top 20% of Massachusetts school districts overall. The high school has a 97% graduation rate, and a 67% AP participation rate.
Melrose 10th graders outperformed the state on MCAS tests, as reported by the Weekly News 10/3/25.
In FY 2026, Melrose Public Schools received $13,285,756 in Chapter 70 (school) funding, marking an increase of $597,750, a 4.7% increase FY 2025 City of Melrose. This funding covers approximately 30% of the total school budget.
To support education, donations can be made to the Melrose Education Fund or The Melrose Education Foundation.
In FY 2026, Melrose received $761,294 in Chapter 90 (road) funding, a significant increase from the $520,000 allocated in FY 2025, and an approximate 46.4% rise in funding year-over-year. Patch+1. The money is being used for city roadway work, sidewalks, and accessibility projects.
Annual trash fees have gone up from $200 to $430.
The mayor’s office created a new Chief of Staff position for $122,000 per year.
“Yes for Melrose" paints a picture of a city in decline, noting that we consistently rank well below the state average for per pupil spending and have had only 2 overrides in 42 years. Yet, residents and new arrivals report that they love Melrose because it’s a wonderful place to live and raise a family, it has a beautiful downtown, and it is, in their opinion, one of the best municipalities in the state.
Melrose voters deserve accountability and transparency, not vague promises.
It’s ok to say NO! Vote No, No, No on the override!
Melrose Operating Budget is up 36%
Free Cash is almost 6 Million. The city is adequately funded.
Melrose continues to easily maintain a AA+ bond rating from Standard and Poor.
“We can all be proud that the latest S&P review of our city’s bond rating returned another favorable result, helping us keep borrowing costs low and giving Melrose the best possible financial position,” said Mayor Jen Grigoraitis
https://www.cityofmelrose.org/home/news/sp-affirms-city%E2%80%99s-aa-bond-rating
One Campus, One Team — Congratulations Melrose Schools!
I’m thrilled to hear that Melrose will be moving to a “one team” approach for our Middle and High School campus. This change is long overdue and will help students transition more smoothly from middle school to high school.
Principal of Middle and High School — Jason Merril
Thank you for your years of dedicated service as Principal, and congratulations on leading our unified campus. As a proud Melrose High School graduate, you bring both experience and hometown pride to the role. Like Bryan Corrigan, you began as an Interim Principal and have shown outstanding leadership.
Interim Deputy Principal of Middle School — Bryan Corrigan
Congratulations on your promotion! Formerly Assistant Principal at the High School, you’ll now be working alongside Principal Merril to guide our upper schools.
Assistant Principal of High School — Christopher Beaver
Thank you for your continued commitment to guiding and supporting our students.
Assistant Principal of Middle School — Michelle Sewyck
We appreciate your many years of dedication to the students of Melrose.
Assistant Principal of Middle School — Steve Black
Congratulations on your promotion from Director to Assistant Principal.
Melrose is fortunate to have such a strong and experienced administrative team at both the Middle and High School levels. It’s encouraging to see so many promotions from within—these leaders have already proven their dedication to our students and our city.
With the Middle and High Schools sharing one campus, it makes perfect sense for them to work as one. Melrose students already have a graduation rate of over 97%, well above the state average. “One Campus, One Team” is the best model for our students—and one that should have been adopted years ago.
Deborah Magowin
To My Neighbors in Melrose,
I’ve lived in Melrose for over 25 years. I raised my family here, volunteered, paid my taxes, been a good neighbor, and contributed in every way I could to make this a strong and welcoming community. I understand deeply the concerns expressed by newer families, and I genuinely appreciate their desire for well-funded schools and quality education. That desire is shared by many of us who have been here for decades. I understood my children would get a good education, not a world class (as stated by our last Superintendent) but that was good enough as it allowed us to afford to live in a great community open to all incomes and life cycles.
But I want to speak honestly, from the perspective of someone who’s lived through countless budget cycles, city council meetings, and yes — tax overrides. While the intentions behind these overrides may be good, the long-term effects have too often hit hardest not on the wealthy, but on seniors, working-class residents, and those on fixed incomes like myself.
The slogan “Don’t tax us out” is not a scare tactic. It’s reality for many of us. Each override raises our property taxes permanently — and when you’re living on a pension or Social Security, or one income every dollar counts. I know neighbors who have already sold their homes because they couldn’t keep up. These were people who volunteered in schools, coached sports teams, and paid taxes here for decades. We love this city too, and we also helped build the Melrose others have now chosen to move to.
I’ve heard people say, “just apply for tax relief programs.” I appreciate that these exist, but try applying for them and you will quickly find out that most of us don’t qualify. I’ve heard suggestions that we take out loans on our house to pay our taxes and that is an extremely careless and a reckless suggestion. These suggestions may make those making them feel better but are not realistic options for most.
We all want a strong school system. But it is not only families with children who matter in a city. A healthy community values all its residents — young and old, lifelong and new. When we repeatedly ask for more money without making structural changes or demanding accountability in spending, we divide our city instead of strengthening it.
I’m saddened to hear that some young families feel Melrose “did not choose” them. But from where I stand, many long-time residents are beginning to feel the same — that unless we can keep up with newer more affluent residents, our presence no longer matters. That’s not the inclusive, connected community I helped build. It’s also important to recognize that families with more financial flexibility often have the option to move elsewhere, while those with fewer resources — especially seniors and working-class residents — do not. Change is always easier for the young. It’s the older and most vulnerable among us who are at the greatest risk of being priced out of the city entirely. Why should those of us who have created this great city over the decades not be able to live out our years in our homes and community.
We need a solution that doesn’t pit one group against another. That starts with fiscal responsibility, creative problem-solving, and meaningful public input — not simply higher taxes.
With respect and hope for better understanding,
A Longtime Melrose Resident
Anthony Fera
Location, Location, Location
Residents’ decision to reject last year’s Override and avoid higher taxes hasn’t slowed the Melrose housing market. In fact, it’s hotter than ever—as Melrose continues to be a more affordable and attractive option compared to surrounding communities.
As noted by: BostonHomeTeam
Melrose Needs Solutions — Not Just More Taxes
We hear the concerns of our neighbors who support the override. We all want strong schools, safe streets, and thriving city services. But we believe the path forward requires more than simply raising taxes. Here's why:
We Have a Spending Problem, Not Just a Revenue Problem
The city’s budget has grown significantly over the past decade — yet we're still facing cuts. Why? Because spending has outpaced sustainable revenue. Before asking residents for more money, city leadership must:
Provide a detailed, transparent account of where current funds are going.
Justify past financial decisions, including new hires, raises, and capital projects.
·Work with other communities to create regional services as is typically done in other states to keep cost down.
Commit to long-term financial planning — not short-term bailouts.
Overrides Are a Short-Term Fix
This year’s $9, 11, and 13 million ask. Next year, it could be more. Overrides are permanent tax increases, but the problems they claim to solve are recurring. If we vote "Yes" today, what’s stopping the next override in two years?
This Hurts Working Families and Seniors
The override proposal increases property taxes by hundreds of dollars per household per year — on top of recent hikes for trash fees and debt exclusions (like the $900/year for public safety buildings). Many residents, especially seniors on fixed incomes and families struggling with inflation, simply can’t afford more.
We Want a Better Plan
"No Override" does not mean "no investment." It means:
Prioritize essential services over non-critical spending.
Demand fiscal accountability and smarter use of existing funds.
Explore new revenue sources (grants, development partnerships, shared services) before turning to taxpayers.
We Love Melrose Too
This isn’t about partisanship — it’s about responsibility. We believe Melrose can thrive without continually increasing the burden on taxpayers. Let’s press pause and work together on a more sustainable solution.
Melrose Chapter 70 (education) funding has increased by over 50% in 5 years!
Yet even this is not enough. No matter how much the city receives it will never be enough, until we insist on financial responsibility!
Vote No, 3 times!
We are told that other cities pay, more per pupil. Yet others like our neighbor Saugus pay millions to bus their students within their city, in grades K-12. Melrose does not, more of our per pupil spending goes directly to education.
Melrose ranks 108 of 351 communities in percentage of household income paid to city taxes in Massachusetts.