Erin Noonan, Select Board

I will be voting Yes on Questions 1, 2, and 3 because I support Question 3 — the $15M request spread over 3 years. I want to be clear that Question 3 is not a wish-list for a Cadillac version of town services.  Rather, a Yes on Question 3 simply restores the town to 2020 service levels, funding everything in Questions 1 and 2 plus additional investments in public safety, capital needs, schools, and other town departments.

On public safety, Question 3 funds a total of 3 police officer positions and 4 firefighter positions. The four firefighter positions return the Marblehead Fire Department to its 2020 staffing levels and should have an impact on reducing overtime costs. On the police side, the department currently has 31 officers — down from 32 prior to FY25, which was already the leanest department on the North Shore. Question 3 would bring the total to 33 officers, allowing us to strengthen patrol coverage and place greater focus on traffic safety, community engagement, and quality of life issues.

Question 3 also restores a number of positions and programs that were cut in recent years. It brings back the DPW Foreman and Specialized Heavy Equipment Operator position that was eliminated a few years ago. It restores the special education program for 18–22 year olds that was cut during Covid.  Returning this program keeps Marblehead students in Marblehead while creating the potential to generate tuition revenue from other communities. It also restores mental health funding for the Marblehead Counseling Center and returns curriculum and professional development funding to the school budget, both of which had been reduced in prior budget cycles.

Question 3 also dedicates $1.5 million to town and school capital needs covering building repairs, vehicle purchases or leases, and ongoing maintenance of town equipment. There are currently between $8 and $11 million in identified projects waiting on this funding, including the Jacobi Center sunroom and library renovation, an elevator for the Old Townhouse, improvements to the Chandler Hovey Park Pavilion, replacement of aging school buses, and rehabilitation of Castle Rock Park. These annual capital expenses were historically covered using free cash, but the Town no longer has sufficient free cash reserves to continue doing that.

The only new position added in Question 3 that was not contained in prior budget years is the grant writer position.  This position will help us secure outside funding and reduce reliance on property taxes.  Taken together, Question 3 represents a responsible, measured path back to the service levels Marblehead residents deserve: nothing more, nothing less.