The magnitude of the tax increase request made to voters this spring continued to take shape Wednesday night, as the Select Board outlined the potential impact on Marblehead property owners of override tiers of $9 million, $12 million and $15 million. In each case, the property tax increase would be spread over three years and include funding for town departments and the schools.
Marblehead faces a $7.7 million deficit for fiscal year 2027. The Select Board and Finance Committee have approved a proposed $123 million budget that includes program cuts and at least 35 to 40 layoffs.
The process
At Town Meeting, beginning May 4, voters will decide whether to give the Select Board approval to place an override of up to $15 million on the June 9 election ballot, which would be presented to voters in three tiers.
At the June election, the most expensive tier that receives a majority vote — if any — would prevail.
Attendees at the Select Board’s meeting expressed significant confusion about what would be included in each tier and how the election would work.
This is the first time Marblehead has proposed a tiered override. Several residents spoke during Wednesday night’s meeting, asking questions and expressing concerns that the three-tier approach may be too complicated.
“I’m the average citizen, and I look at that and this thing, and I think it’s confusing,” said Ginny O’Brien.
The board asked Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer and Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin to enhance their presentation with more specific details. Board members also committed to clearly explaining the options and impacts before the June election.
The Select Board also discussed a memorandum of understanding committing the town to not proposing another general override until fiscal year 2030 if any override tier passes in June. The School Committee is expected to discuss the MOU at its meeting Thursday night.
To illustrate the potential tax impact of each of the three tiers, Kezer and Benjamin used the average single-family home value in Marblehead ($1.3 million).
Tier 1
Tier 1 would restore many of the cuts in the town’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, including some staff positions at Abbot Library, the Council on Aging, Planning and Community Development, and Recreation and Parks.
The estimated annual impact on the tax bill of the owner of a $1.3 million home would be:
Year 1: $167.90
Year 2: $804.93
Year 3: $1,186.68
Tier 2
Tier 2 would build on Tier 1 by restoring additional cuts and reinvesting in programs that have seen reductions in recent years. Its impact on the same homeowner would be:
Year 1: $361.62
Year 2: $1,132.65
Year 3: $1,587.37
Tier 3
Tier 3 would build on the first two tiers and include additional investments in reserves and capital funds. Its impact would be:
Year 1: $555.35
Year 2: $1,369.97
Year 3: $1,985.39
Question 2 — Trash
The Select Board is also asking voters to consider a second override to cover rising trash costs. Voters will be asked to approve a $2,298,575 override spread over three years. If the override fails, residents would instead be charged an annual trash fee.
No vote Wednesday
The Select Board did not vote on the proposed overrides, wanting to wait until the School Committee meets tomorrow night. Select Board members meet next April 22, but may schedule a vote sooner.
