Mayor Infurna's Introductory Statement on the Override

Here are the remarks made by Mayor Infurna to the Board of Aldermen at their special meeting on November 8, 2018.

Honorable Members of the Board of Aldermen,

I am here tonight to ask you to do two things that will allow the people of Melrose to make an important decision.

The first is to call a special election for April 2, 2019, and the second is to place an override question on that ballot.

I am asking for a special election because we need to know by the beginning of the spring budget cycle whether or not we will have these additional funds. We will present the voters with summaries of two possible budgets, one with the override and one without. The choice will be very clear.

The override question is based on the most pressing needs of the city and the priorities stated by the public in the listening sessions, via the questionnaires, and in e-mails and letters to my office. We heard loud and clear that the people of Melrose wanted to know exactly how the money would be used, they wanted the override to truly solve the problems that have been set forth, and they wanted to see that this is part of a long-term plan. We have taken their advice to heart when constructing this override.

This override addresses students, staff, and space. As you know, our student population is increasing, and that means, quite simply, that we need enough teachers for our growing number of students. This override would pay for that.

As for space, we are fortunate to have held on to the Beebe School, and now we want to reclaim it rather than continue to rent it. However, this means we will no longer receive the rental fee for that building. A portion of the override money will go to cover that lost revenue. We are working with Superintendent Taymore to plan how to accommodate our growing student body, and the Beebe School will play a part in those plans if the override passes. This part of the proposal also addresses the need for more curriculum materials, supplies, textbooks, and technology for our students. 

As you know, for several years we have supplemented the school budget with an additional appropriation. Using one-time money to fund the operating budget is not an ideal situation, but we have had no choice. This override would allow us to do the responsible thing and provide enough money for our schools up front. That would make our budgeting process more accurate and more transparent. We could then use those one-time monies for one-time expenses such as repairs and new equipment, rather than putting them into the school operating budget.

And finally, staff: This override will give us the funds we need to keep our best teachers in the Melrose schools. We have many good teachers who leave after a few years because they can earn more in another district. This override will allow us to offer our teachers competitive salaries. It will also encourage these teachers, who have benefited from our training and professional development, to stay in the district.

The total amount of this override is $5.18 million. This is the amount we need to fix the problems I have outlined. A lower amount would not. 

This override is the responsible thing to do. We have cut costs, looked for additional sources of revenue, and run on a tight budget for years, and we will continue along that path. However, that is not enough. We must increase our property tax revenues. Overrides were designed for communities like Melrose, which are mostly residential, with little commercial and no industrial property. 

If you approve these two orders, you will allow the voters to choose how much they want to invest in themselves. Every dollar of this override stays in Melrose and will make our city better. 

This money is designated for the schools. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts establishes a set amount we must budget for the schools, and we barely meet that minimum each year. Because of this, we have given the majority of new revenue to the schools, at the expense of other departments. A successful override would take the pressure off departments that have been underfunded for years and allow us to make needed improvements.

I am not here today to ask you to endorse this proposal. I am simply asking you to put the override on the ballot. This will affect every member of our community, so I want all voices to be heard. If we do not offer our residents this opportunity, we will have to make drastic cuts to the budget without their input. 

Therefore, I am asking you to call this special election for April and place the override question on the ballot so we can allow the voters to choose for themselves. I am asking you to trust the residents of Melrose to make the best choice for our city and our future.