Marblehead, MA • FY27 override
days until the ballot
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 · Annual Town Election
FY27 budget • the why
The gap between FY27 revenue and expenses, after the levy grows 2.5% and one-time reserves run out.
FY26 was balanced by drawing down $4M of "free cash" (prior-years' surplus the state certifies each fall). That source can't repeat in FY27.
Annual step increases in negotiated salaries, plus the vocational-school assessment growing as more Marblehead students attend Essex North Shore Tech.
The town's share of the GIC group insurance plan covering employees and retirees.
A new curbside trash and recycling contract starts FY27, plus the town's mandatory pension payment is up 9% on the actuary's fixed schedule.
Motor-vehicle excise tax, building-permit fees, and other non-property-tax local revenue is projected to drop in FY27.
Offset by $2.7M in levy growth (the 2.5% Prop 2½ cap plus new construction) and other revenue. The remainder is the $8.47M gap.
Full deficit waterfallYear-3 cost • at your home
Tier 2 ($12M, Build) per month at a home assessed at $1,291,507 • $1,590/year.
Full calculator (year-by-year, share of income)June 9 ballot
Vote yes on each override tier you'd accept. If more than one passes, the highest dollar amount prevails. Question 4 (curbside trash) is independent.
If the override fails
The town published a no-override budget that closes the $8.47M gap with staffing reductions, the OPEB retiree healthcare trust eliminated, and the library reduced by 43%.
−22
town positions~12% of general-fund headcount
−18.25
school FTEslayoffs + unfilled + stipends
−43%
Abbot Library52 to 24 hours/week, decertification at risk
where reasonable people disagree
Same gap.
Different reads.
The $8.47M math is largely agreed: it's revenue minus expense, line by line. Whether the budget that produces it is bloated or the floor for the services Marblehead expects is the actual debate. The site presents the strongest version of each case.