Facing a Defecit

What an Override Failure Would Mean for Marblehead

If the override fails, Marblehead will have to reduce spending by about $5.5 million compared to what’s needed to keep services at today’s levels. These cuts would affect departments across town and significantly impact the services, staffing, and programs our community depends on.

Passing a general override is the path to avoiding these costly cuts.

35+

Positions eliminated

~$2.5M

Personnel reductions

~$1.5M

Non-personnel reductions

$1.5M

Pending school reductions

  • Education

    5+ classroom teachers reduced at MHS, elementary, and Veterans programs

    ELL support scaled back at Village and Glover schools

    Special ed teacher, ABA coordinator, and speech-language pathologist reduced

    Instructional assistant and math intervention positions eliminated

    $1.5M in additional cost reductions are still to be determined; will likely impact X, Y, Z

  • Public safety & infrastructure

    One police officer position eliminated

    DPW labor reduced, impacting general services and snow removal

    Cemetery and Rec & Park staffing cut — snow removal and 187 public trash barrels affected

    Public buildings custodial staff reduced by 2

  • Library & community programs

    Library reduced to 3 days/week, requiring 8.5 FTE reductions

    All library materials funding eliminated — triggering loss of state aid

    COA nutrition coordinator cut, ending weekly community meals and pop-up lunches

  • Town administration

    Community Dev. & Planning reduced to bare minimum — department head, sustainability, and grant roles eliminated

    Town Clerk reduced to 2 staff; Finance clerk eliminated

    School operations and HR positions cut

  • Financial reserves & operating budgets

    Stabilization Fund and OPEB (retiree benefits) annual transfers both cut to $0

    Several school administrative salaries shifted to revolving accounts — a short-term measure, not a structural fix

    Reductions in utilities, supplies, FinCom reserve, and miscellaneous operating expenses