It’s been 20+ years since Marblehead passed a general tax override. Without one, we face deep, destructive cuts to schools, the library, and basic town services.
What can I do to help protect Marblehead’s future?
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We are ALL IN to fund the town we LOVE. Vote YES on Questions 1 & 2 & 3.
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Make a plan to VOTE
There are three ways to cast your vote in the June 9 Town Election:
→ Request a ballot by mail by Tue June 2. Your ballot will be mailed to your address! Return your ballot to the Town Clerk at Abbot Hall by Mon June 8. You can mail it, but we recommend dropping it in the red box outside Abbot Hall. You can track your ballot here.
→ Walk into Abbot Hall during early voting hours this week.
Tue, June 2: 10am-3pm
Wed, June 3: 10am-5pm
Thu, June 4: 10am-3pm
→ Vote in-person on Election Day: Tue June 9
Check your polling location
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Learn more about the choices
→ Question 1 $9MM VOTE YES! Keeps us from the deepest budget cuts but will still mean a reduction in town services.
→ Question 2 $12MM VOTE YES! Includes everything in Q1 plus some services. It helps avoid the cuts but doesn’t go far enough toward fixing our core structural issues.
→ Question 3 $15MM VOTE YES! Includes everything in Q1 & Q2. It also funds preventive maintenance to avoid more expensive repairs later and enables potential new revenue streams. Dive deeper into Q3 details.
Want to know how much these would cost you? Use our tax calculator.
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How will the ballot work?
There will be 4 override questions. What were formerly referred to as “tiers” are now separate ballot questions:
Tier 1 is now Question 1
Tier 2 is Question 2
Tier 3 is Question 3
Question 4 deals with town trash collection.
Residents will vote for or against each override question independently.
Each question requires a majority to pass. If more than one of questions 1-3 pass, the highest tier/question will prevail.
Vote YES on Questions 1 & 2 & 3.
What’s happening with our town’s finances?
Marblehead faces a growing gap between revenues and costs, putting our schools, services, and infrastructure at risk. For years, costs have outpaced the limits of Proposition 2½, with little room for new revenue. Without action, difficult cuts are coming that will impact our quality of life.
Did anyone see this coming?
Yes. For years, Marblehead's Finance Committee told residents the same thing: the town was spending more than it was taking in, patching the gap with one-time funds and unsustainable cuts, and heading toward a crisis. The warnings were public. They were consistent. And now the crisis is here.
Why this matters
The Proposition 2½ Squeeze: Marblehead's property tax levy can grow by only 2.5% per year — about $2.2M annually. But the town's largest costs — health insurance, pensions, and contracted salaries — have grown faster than 2.5% for years. The result is a structural deficit that widens every year: more money is committed before the budget process even begins, leaving less room for services, maintenance, and investment.
One-Time Fixes Run Out
In prior years, Marblehead was able to delay the impact of its structural deficit with one-time measures — drawing heavily on free cash, digging into revolving funds, and deferring capital investment. In FY27 those options are running out. At Town Meeting on May 4, residents advanced a general override to the town-wide election on June 9. A general override is a permanent increase to the amount of property tax revenue a community can raise under Proposition 2½. It allows Marblehead to fund town services including schools, public safety, and infrastructure.
The path forward
Marblehead hasn’t passed a general override in 21 years. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We are ALL IN to fund the town we love. Make a plan to vote on June 9 and join us.
