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!
Opposing the Melrose, MA Tax Override: Why Voting No Protects Residents
Protecting Homeowners from Unaffordable Tax Hikes
Voting No on the Melrose tax override means standing up for homeowners and residents who already face high living costs. The proposed overrides would increase property taxes by $948 to $1,374 per year for the average single-family home. These are significant new financial burdens, particularly for seniors, families living on fixed incomes, and working people whose salaries have not kept pace with inflation. Melrose recently rejected a $7.7 million override, with the majority of voters expressing concern about affordability.
Holding City Leadership Accountable for Fiscal Management
A "No" vote sends a clear message to City Hall: it’s time to prioritize responsible financial management instead of raising more revenue through tax increases. The override comes after years of city officials making hiring decisions and expanding obligations, yet Melrose’s spending has not always aligned with residents’ ability to pay. Taxpayers should be able to expect cost-saving strategies, proper budgeting, and efforts to identify waste or unnecessary expenses before being asked for more money.
Alternative Solutions Exist – Tax Hikes Aren’t the Only Answer
City officials contend that the override is the only option, but other communities have found creative ways to balance budgets, generate revenue, and streamline services without recurring overrides. Melrose leaders should exhaust all alternatives—such as seeking additional state aid, collaborating with neighboring communities to share services, reforming spending practices, or exploring new funding streams. Raising taxes should be the last step, not the first.
Tax Increases Are Unfair and Regressive
The override would disproportionately harm residents with lower or fixed incomes. Property taxes are a regressive form of taxation: as property values rise, taxes increase, even if people’s incomes do not. Melrose already depends on residential taxes, putting extra pressure on ordinary families rather than businesses or other sources. A "No" vote is a vote for fairness and for maintaining Melrose’s appeal for all residents—not just those who can afford higher taxes.
Preventing a Cycle of Endless Overrides
Since 1990, Melrose has passed multiple overrides and faces the prospect of continuing to ask voters for more money every few years. Saying "No" now can force city leaders to break this pattern, reform finances, and build a sustainable future without repeated taxpayer bailouts. This election empowers residents to demand lasting fiscal reform, not just temporary fixes that lead to more override votes.
Take Action
Protect your home, your finances, and Melrose’s future—vote No on all tax override questions this November. Let’s build a better Melrose through transparency, innovation, and responsible management, not higher taxes.