The polls are closed.
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. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
Awaiting results….
Election Day Is TODAY!
Early voting is over and the deadline to get a mail-in ballot has passed. If you requested one, drop it in the red box outside of Abbot Hall ASAP!! Track your mail-in ballot here.
Your final chance to vote is today. Polls will be open from 7am to 8pm (and if you are in line at 8pm, you’ll be allowed to vote).
Check your polling location and bring someone who doesn’t usually vote.
Understanding The Options
There will be 4 override questions on the BACK of the ballot. Vote for or against each override question, one at a time.
Question 1 $9MM Keeps us from the deepest budget cuts but will still mean a reduction in town services. VOTE YES!
Question 2 $12MM Includes everything in Q1 plus some services. It helps avoid the cuts but doesn’t go far enough toward fixing our core structural issues. VOTE YES!
Question 3 $15MM Includes everything in Q1 & Q2. It also funds preventive maintenance to avoid more expensive repairs later and enables potential new revenue streams. VOTE YES!
Question 4 deals with town trash collection… it’s separate from the three above.
How The Ballot Works
The override questions will be on the BACK of the ballot.
Vote YES or NO on each question.
Each question requires a majority (more yes votes than no) to pass. Then, a few things could happen:
If all three questions fail, there’s no override.
If only one of the question passes, that’s our winner.
If multiple questions pass, the winner will be the question with the highest dollar. So, if questions 1 and 2 pass but question 3 fails, our winner is question 2 (the highest dollar amount that passed).
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.