No stone has been left unturned.

Marblehead has been facing a structural deficit for years. Here's what's been done:

• Departments have been level-funded and asked to cut for years, on both the school and municipal sides.

• The town reduced its reliance on free cash, which is one-time money that papers over gaps but doesn't fix them.

• A new accounting system (ClearGov) was implemented, improving transparency and financial tracking.

• Interest-bearing accounts were moved to banks offering higher rates of return.

• A meals and lodging tax was instituted, something most surrounding towns already had in place.

• A Grants Manager and Sustainability Coordinator were hired specifically to pursue outside funding. The Sustainability Coordinator brought in $745,000 in grants at a salary of approximately $85,000. An additional $4M in grants remains out of reach due to Marblehead's noncompliance with Chapter 40A Section 3A. Both positions are on the chopping block without an override.

• Department functions have been consolidated where possible to reduce costs.

Throughout, Marblehead has maintained its AAA bond rating, but S&P Global has changed the town's outlook to "negative," citing financial pressures. A single-point rating drop could cost taxpayers tens of thousands in additional interest over time.

The gap remains. The override is the next step.