City Council Passes Reduced Budget After Override Failure
Last Thursday night the city council passed a budget that reflected a number of cuts to schools and city services after Melrose voters chose not to pass a Proposition 2½ override.
Mayor Jen Grigoraitis had called for an override vote to raise an additional $7.7 million in property taxes after it became clear that a budget based on the revenue currently available to the city would result in cuts to the schools and city services. 55% of Melrose voters, in an election with 44% turnout, voted against the override measure.
With no additional funds available from the override, the budget that the city council passed last week reflected the threatened cuts. 13 staff within the Melrose Public Schools will be laid off, and other positions have been reduced, transferred or left unfilled. This will likely result in larger class sizes and reduced offerings and resources across the district. Community events, veterans’ services, and services for seniors, as well as fire and police, will experience cuts as well.
When Mayor Grigoraitis presented the budget, she commented, “this is a budget that shows what it looks like to live within our means, and they are going to be some challenging means.”
Several city councilors also expressed their disappointment with the outcome of the override vote. Councilor Maya Jamaleddine called the results “alarming” and noted that “the schools and the students are now suffering from the decisions the adults have made.” Councilor Leila Migliorelli shared that while “the city will make the best of this situation,” the services provided by the reduced budget “will fall far short of what this community needs and deserves.”
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