Town Election Guide - Marblehead Current

28 Jun

For some, fight for funding goes on despite override loss

Leigh Blander0 CommentsEducation, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Politics, Public safety, Sports, Top Stories, Town Election Guide, Uncategorized

With the failure of the $2.5 million override last week, some parents and residents are determined to find other ways to fund the schools and town next year and prevent the loss of more than 30 positions and several programs that have been cut. Pink slips were sent out to affected teachers and staff on June 23. Freshman sports have been canceled for next year. Voters rejected the $2.5 million override, but some residents aren't giving up. CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER “I personally feel…

21 Jun

School Committee chair ‘shocked’ by town budget announcement that could lead to more layoffs

Leigh Blander0 CommentsEducation, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Top Stories, Town Election Guide

The Marblehead School Committee and the district are dealing with a bombshell announcement late Wednesday that the town may not be able contribute the full $350,000 expected toward school energy costs in fiscal year 2024 because there may not be enough funds available. The town also notified the schools that it has to charge back approximately $60,000 in utility costs to the department for the current fiscal year, according to the district. The new Select Board is sworn in Wednesday night. Shortly after, it adjourned…

20 Jun

Changes coming to School Committee amid budget crisis

Leigh Blander0 CommentsLocal News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories, Town Election Guide, Uncategorized

Voters sent two familiar faces to the School Committee, as the district is forced to cut 30-plus positions and several programs with the failure of the tax override. Jenn Schaeffner (a former School Committee member) and former Glover School Principal Brian Ota beat incumbent Sarah Gold and Paul Baker. Schaeffer won 3,052 votes and Ota 2,497. Gold received 2,390 votes and Baker received 2,262. Former Glover School Principal Brian Ota will join the School Committee. Jenn Schaeffner is returning to the School Committee. "I'm very…

20 Jun

Marblehead voters head to polls to decide tax override, candidate races

Leigh Blander0 CommentsEducation, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Politics, Public safety, Top Stories, Town Election Guide

Marblehead voters are heading to the polls today, June 20, deciding a $2.5 million permanent tax override, along with several hotly-contested races for Select Board, School Committee, Board of Health and more. Override supporters say the tax increase is necessary to fund dozens of town positions in the schools, public safety and public works, along with programs. Critics say the town has mismanaged its finances and should live within its means. Read more about the override debate here. For a complete election rundown, check out…

09 Jun

Marblehead Current launches override calculator

Leigh Blander0 CommentsLocal News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Politics, Public safety, real estate, Top Stories, Town Election Guide

Marblehead voters head to the polls on June 20 to approve or reject a $2.5 million permanent override and elect many town leaders. It has been 18 years since Marblehead has approved a general override. Launching today within its comprehensive Election Guide, the Marblehead Current is including an override calculator which allows residents to input their property's estimated value and learn their additional tax burden should the override be approved. The calculator, created by Marblehead resident and web developer Ed Lewis, shows additional taxes for…

23 May

Parent group pushing for $2.5 million override

Leigh Blander0 CommentsEducation, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Sports, Top Stories, Town Election Guide

Local parents who support the $2.5 million permanent tax override on the ballot in the June 20 election are launching a “Vote Yes for Marblehead” campaign. “'Vote Yes for Marblehead' will be working in the coming weeks to advocate for the successful passage of the override,” the committee said in a statement to the Marblehead Current. “As residents, taxpayers and parents, we simply could not stand by silently while critical public safety and education services are at risk of being drastically reduced.” The override, which…

22 Mar

Tweaks to election process on Marblehead Town Meeting warrant

Kris Olson0 CommentsLocal News, Top Stories, Town Election Guide

Compared to a proposal to extend the terms of members of the Select Board to three years, three other Town Meeting articles that would tweak the way local elections are administered may prove to be less controversial. In Article 53, the second-to-last article on the warrant, resident Jonathan Lederman is proposing that the town accept the provisions of a state law, G.L.c. 53, §9A, which would clarify that the final date for obtaining blank nomination papers for nomination to town office shall be “48 weekday…

22 Aug

QUESTIONS FOR 8TH ESSEX CANDIDATES: No. 2 — Tell us about a view-shaping event

Will Dowd6 CommentsLocal News, Top Stories, Town Election Guide

The Marblehead News posed a series of common questions to the six Democratic candidates for state representative from the 8th Essex District. There is no declared Republican candidate, meaning the winner of the primary Tuesday, Sept. 6 is likely to head to Beacon Hill to serve Marblehead, Swampscott and a portion of Lynn. Over the next two weeks, the Marblehead News will post the candidates’ responses to our questions, side by side, alternating the order as we go. Previous question: Q1. Tell us about yourself.…

17 Jun

Question 1 proposes capital spending in four parts

Will Dowd0 CommentsTop Stories, Town Election Guide

Marblehead has a history of exercising fiscal prudence within the Proposition 2 1/2 framework to finance capital projects. The process usually unfolds with town officials or a group of citizens identifying a capital need, developing a budget and timeline, and embarking on a campaign to garner community support. Debate plays out in the lead-up to Town Meeting. If the project secures a two-thirds vote on the Town Meeting floor, it heads for a town-wide referendum. If the project captures a simple majority in that second…

17 Jun

Marblehead school officials: Question 2 would fund long unmet needs

Will Dowd0 CommentsTop Stories, Town Election Guide

In Question 2 on the Tuesday, June 21 town election ballot, school officials are asking to override by $3 million Proposition 2 1/2, which annually limits increases to property-tax assessments to 2.5 percent. Education officials say the money is needed to fill a significant funding gap in the district’s $43 million budget that has grown over multiple years. QUESTION 2: Shall the Town of Marblehead be allowed to assess an additional $3,051,093 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of the School…