We’re proud longtime residents,
engaged newcomers, concerned parents & caring neighbors.
Yes for Melrose is a non-partisan campaign supporting a tax override to fund reliable public resources for every Melrose resident.
The bad news:
Melrose is in the midst of a revenue crisis.
Inflation and rising costs have regularly outpaced state limits on property tax revenue, which accounts for most of our city’s funding.
Without action, we face devastating cuts to our schools, public safety, essential infrastructure repairs, and vital community services.
The good news:
We have the power to fix it.
We can revive the things that make Melrose a great place to live, invest in a stronger future, and come together to provide residents of all ages with the resources they need.
How? By voting Yes on a Proposition 2 1/2 override in 2025.
Your city needs your support
Melrose’s financial challenges are big and they are real. But they also present an opportunity.
We get to choose the kind of community we want to be.
A community that shows up for our kids and seniors, helps our neighbors, and supports our first responders. One that pulls together when things get tough to make Melrose a place that we can all be proud to call home.
These override funds will pay for the basic services we need and expect from our city. Voting YES can help us restore our infrastructure, safety, and schools, while laying a stable foundation for the years ahead.
What’s at stake:
Maintenance of our roads and city buildings
Safe emergency response times and staffing levels
Adequate resources for our students
Programs and services for seniors
Community events
Extreme weather readiness
Economic development
Technology updates to protect data security
How did we get here?
The budget shortfalls we face are not limited to Melrose.
Melrose has reliably maintained a lean budget, a AA+ bond rating, and clean audits.
But we’ve all felt the squeeze of inflation. It’s hitting communities across the state, too, as costs for things like maintenance, utilities, and benefits significantly outpace tax revenue.
A key factor: Proposition 2 ½.
With Prop 2 1/2, no matter how much costs rise, Melrose’s primary revenue source—property tax—only increases 2.5% a year.
The law was designed to keep taxes predictable, while giving the voters the power to approve local tax increases to fund the services they believe are necessary and valuable.
Over time, inflation has regularly exceeded the law’s 2.5% property tax limit, making it difficult for cities and towns to fund schools, public safety, and municipal services without seeking periodic overrides to bridge the gap.
In fact, 45 Massachusetts communities, including Medford and Arlington, have passed overrides in the past three years.
