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<h2>Malden's public services are at risk</h2>If the override fails, the City will need to close a budget gap of $8 million or more. The City is already working to reduce costs, such as by moving City health insurance to a state plan but that won't be enough. Deep cuts - up to 60 layoffs - would be necessary to fill such a large budget gap. Because the school budget minimum is set by the state, those cuts would be concentrated across police, fire, library, DPW, and general government - about 15% cut across those areas. That would mean losing 15 police officers, 15 firefighters, 9 DPW workers, 3 librarians, and 18 general government workers. These cuts would effect every Malden resident.

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We can risk a negative cycle of job cuts, worsening City services, and less investment, or we can vote Yes! to a resilient community that protects the things that matter.

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<h2>Donate to our campaign</h2>Thank you for contributing to our campaign! You can donate online through <a href="https://secure.actblue.com/donate/yesformalden" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ActBlue</a> or using the buttons below. Checks can be made out to Yes for Malden and be sent to:Yes for Malden PO Box 232 Malden, MA 02148Individuals and organizations can contribute any amount to a municipal ballot campaign. If an individual is contributing more than $200, <a href="https://www.ocpf.us/PublicSearch/ViewDocument?id=3015" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state law</a> requires us to collect your occupation and employer information. You must be a U.S. citizen to donate.

<h2>Cost to Residents</h2>If the override passes, the average single-family homeowner will see their property tax bill increase by about $29-$44 per month, depending on whether <a href="/4687aaf2-8c4a-408e-b27a-0a19e6177ab9">Question 1A</a> ($5.4 million) or <a href="/4687aaf2-8c4a-408e-b27a-0a19e6177ab9">Question 1B</a> ($8.2 million) is adopted. The exact impact on your tax bill depends on your property's assessed value.Here's a quick breakdown:<ul><li>The average condo (valued at $449,000) would see an increase of $20-$30 per month, or $238-$359 annually</li><li>The average single-family home (valued at $666,000) would see an increase of $29-$44 per month, or $353-$533 annually</li><li>Most owner-occupants will see a smaller tax increase due to the residential exemption</li><li>The City's <a style="color: var(--color-text-accent-primary); text-decoration-color: var(--color-text-accent-primary);" href="https://www.cityofmalden.org/1230/Whats-The-Impact-To-Me" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">tax calculator</a> shows how your property would be affected (not including the residential exemption)</li><li>Renters do not pay property tax and will not pay more unless their landlord increase their rent</li></ul>

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So what would happen if the $8.2 million override passes?

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<h2>The residential exemption</h2>The residential exemption reduces property taxes for homeowners who live in their homes, and shifts the cost to investor-owners. The residential exemption does not affect the City budget. It just shifts who pays what, benefiting owner-occupants while investment properties and second homes make up the difference.The City Council just voted to increase the residential exemption from 30% to 35% - the max allowed. This increase takes effect in 2026, and will reduce the tax bill for owner-occupants, regardless of the override vote. You can learn more about the residential exemption on the <a href="https://www.cityofmalden.org/602/Residential-Tax-Exemption-Program" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">City's website</a> or by reviewing the <a href="https://cityofmalden.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&amp;ID=14900071&amp;GUID=72120A42-1EC6-4C13-A9F5-7D9CB0397C16" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">October 2025 Council presentation</a>.

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<h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>City budgets and tax overrides are complicated! We're compiling answers to common questions about the override. Don't see your question below? Email us at <a href="mailto:yesformalden@gmail.com">yesformalden@gmail.com</a>.<h4>What is Proposition 2½?</h4>Proposition 2½ is a Massachusetts law passed by voters in 1980 in an attempt to keep property taxes predictable and give communities control over local tax increases. The law sets strict, rigid limits on how much property tax revenue a city or town can collect each year.Here's how it works:<ul><li>2.5% annual growth cap: A municipality's property tax revenue can only increase by 2.5% per year, plus revenue from new construction</li><li>Levy ceiling: Cities and towns cannot collect more than 2.5% of the total assessed value of all taxable property</li><li>What this means: Even if property values soar, expenses drastically increase, or inflation spikes, total property tax collected can still only grow by that 2.5% cap</li></ul><h4>What is an override?</h4>When a community needs to raise more revenue than Prop 2½ allows, state law gives voters the power to approve an "override" — a permanent increase to the tax levy that becomes part of the base budget going forward.&nbsp;An override is a vote by the community to increase property taxes above the 2.5% cap set by state law. Unlike temporary funding, an override becomes part of the city’s base budget every year going forward. This allows Malden not only to balance the budget this year, but also to keep pace with rising costs.Overrides are not unusual. Many surrounding communities have already passed them to protect schools, public safety, and town services. Since 1980, <a href="https://dlsgateway.dor.state.ma.us/reports/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=Votes.Prop2_5.OverrideUnderride">cities and towns across MA</a> have passed a total of about 1,900 overrides (including our neighbors in Medford, Melrose, and Stoneham), and 50% of those communities have passed 5 or more overrides.An override isn't a workaround or a loophole; it's the mechanism specifically built into the law to allow communities to invest in services that matter to them.&nbsp;Malden has never passed an override in its history. The March 31st vote represents the first time residents will decide whether to authorize additional funding to address the City's budget gap and prevent cuts to essential services.<h4>Why does Malden need an override?</h4>Like other cities, Malden faces serious financial challenges due to forces beyond our control:<ul><li>Inflation has gone up more than 25% since 2020, making everything more expensive.</li><li>Health insurance costs for City workers and retirees are going up fast. Costs went up 15% last year alone.</li><li>School spending requirements from the state are growing faster than City revenue. This means that the City is required to put more and more of its available funds into the schools, and to take that money from everything else - such as police, fire, DPW, and so on. The schools need the investment, but the City's budget - constrained by Prop 2½ - can't keep up.</li><li>Property taxes can only grow at 2.5% per year. Only the voters can approve an increase above that amount. And the City's expenses are growing much faster than 2.5%.</li></ul>Malden needs to pass the override to close a budget gap that is more than $8 million.<h4>What will happen if Malden does not pass an override?</h4>Voting no in this election means that 40-60 City jobs could be cut in order to balance the budget. That means hardworking Malden residents who work for police, fire, the library, and public works will be out of a job. Without these positions and services, our city will be worse off. The loss of these positions will have ripple effects throughout the community. Slower city services makes the city less appealing for new and existing businesses. Insurance premiums for homeowners and renters will rise as the city loses public safety certifications/rankings. These effects could be felt for years to come.<h4>How much will an override cost me?</h4>If the override passes, the average single-family homeowner will see their property tax bill increase by about $29-$44 per month, depending on whether <a href="https://www.yesformalden.org/the-ballot">Question 1A</a> ($5.4 million) or <a href="https://www.yesformalden.org/the-ballot">Question 1B</a> ($8.2 million) is adopted. The exact impact on your tax bill depends on your property's assessed value.If you own your own home, the City has increased the residential exemption which may reduce the net impact of a Proposition 2 1/2 override.&nbsp; For the average single-family home, the residential exemption increase will reduce your taxes by $291. <a href="/e689bd5a-fd58-4f90-a32f-861ab0a53f07">Learn more here.</a><h4>Can’t the city just cut spending instead of raising taxes?</h4>The only way to cut more than $8 million from the City budget is to significantly reduce the City's workforce. The exact amounts are unknown, but we estimate that this gap could require cutting 40-60 jobs, which would have a major impact on City services like police, fire, public works, library, youth and senior services, and City Hall. If we want to keep Malden a great city to live in, we can't compromise on our city services.<h4>Why don't we know what positions would be cut?</h4>After the election, the Mayor and the City Council will negotiate the City budget. This process cannot begin until they know how much funding the City will have - which will be a direct result of the March 31st election. What we do know is that the budget gap will be more than $8 million dollars, and could grow as more information - such as state financial requirements and health care costs - becomes available.<h4>Don’t rising property values mean that the city gets more property tax?</h4>No, the City does not get a windfall from rising property values. By law, and setting aside new growth, each year the City’s total property tax levy can only increase by 2.5%.The “total property tax levy” is the total amount the city can collect. Even if property values go up by an average of 5% in a year, the “total property tax levy” can still only go up by 2.5%.In fact, if the total value of all property in the City increases, the tax rate has to decrease so that the total amount of property tax collected increases by only 2.5%. <a href="https://youtu.be/0mCI6iqtGnM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Learn more here.</a><h4>How can I be sure that the City is spending my taxes responsibly?</h4>The City shows exactly how tax dollars are being spent with a tool called <a href="https://www.cityofmalden.org/1229/How-Are-My-Taxes-Spent">ClearGov</a>. This tool uses actual data from the current year (FY26) budget and previous budgets.The City is audited every year. Annual audits and budgets are <a href="https://www.cityofmalden.org/1233/Annual-City-Audits-and-Budgets" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">available here.</a>

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We could lose three librarians, risking weekend, evening, and children's room hours. We could also lose state funding if our staff levels drop below current levels.- Cait Quinn, Union President, Malden Public Library, Local 3945

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<h2>Proposition 2½</h2>Proposition 2½ is a Massachusetts law passed by voters in 1980 in an attempt to keep property taxes predictable and give communities control over local tax increases. The law sets strict, rigid limits on how much property tax revenue a city or town can collect each year.Here's how it works:<ul><li>2.5% annual growth cap: A municipality's property tax revenue can only increase by 2.5% per year, plus revenue from new construction</li><li>Levy ceiling: Cities and towns cannot collect more than 2.5% of the total assessed value of all taxable property</li><li>What this means: Even if property values soar, expenses drastically increase, or inflation spikes, total property tax collected can still only grow by that 2.5% cap</li></ul>

City expenses go up much faster than that due to these factors:

Only the voters can raise taxes above 2.5% per year.

We get to choose the kind of city we want Malden to be.

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<h2>The Ballot</h2>On March 31st, Malden voters will see two questions on the ballot, but only ONE will take effect. This is called a tiered ballot, and it gives voters a choice between two funding levels while ensuring that the community can move forward with at least one option. Vote YES on Q1A and YES on Q1B by March 31 to invest in Malden. <ul><li>Question 1A: $5.4 million override</li><li>Question 1B: $8.2 million override</li></ul><h2>Vote YES on Both Questions </h2>Voting YES on only one question creates risk. If that question doesn't reach 50% but the other one does, you've essentially voted against any override at all. By voting YES on both questions, you ensure that Malden can secure funding at one level or the other—giving the community the best chance to stop the cuts and start rebuilding.A "No" vote is not neutral. Without an override, Malden will continue to face severe cuts to schools, public safety, infrastructure, and vital services.

Two questions will appear on the ballot, giving voters the option of adopting an $8.2 million override or a smaller $5.4 million override.

How a tiered ballot works

Inflation, healthcare costs, and school spending mandates are rising much faster than local revenue. Only the voters can stop 60+ layoffs to police, fire, public works, library, and other City services.

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Like other cities, Malden faces serious challenges:

How did we get here?

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We've all seen it: inflation has gone up 25% since 2020, making everything more expensive.

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Health insurance costs for City workers and retirees are going up fast. Costs went up 15% last year alone.

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State required school spending is growing much faster than City revenue. Our schools need the investment, but the City budget can't keep up.

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State law limits property tax growth to 2.5% per year. Only the voters can raise taxes above the limit.

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<h2>Costs go up much faster than 2.5% per year</h2>The system was designed over 45 years ago to protect taxpayers from runaway tax bills. But here's the catch: 2.5% annual growth usually can't keep pace with the actual costs cities face. The price of everything from road salt to health insurance to teacher salaries tends to rise faster than 2.5% a year.&nbsp;Over decades, this gap compounds, and communities find themselves doing more with less until eventually, "less" means devastating cuts to schools, public safety, infrastructure, and services. That's the bind many Massachusetts cities and towns face today, including Malden.&nbsp;

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Proposition 2 1/2

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Proposition 2½ is a state law that governs how cities like Malden can raise money through property taxes. Cities raise taxes only 2.5% every year, unless voters approve a tax override.<a href="/5432775e-7364-4c6d-8b61-1720c74936c8">Learn more about Proposition 2½.</a>

Proposition 2½

The override ballot question gives voters multiple options: vote to approve an $8.2 million increase, vote to approve a $5.4 million increase, or vote no to the override. <a href="/4687aaf2-8c4a-408e-b27a-0a19e6177ab9">Learn more about the ballot question.</a>

The ballot question

Learn how your property taxes would increase if the override is adopted, and how the City is reducing the impact on owner-occupants.<a href="/e689bd5a-fd58-4f90-a32f-861ab0a53f07">Learn more about cost to residents.</a>

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Have more questions? We've got answers.<a href="/07ee4dc5-0e68-4e35-9989-bb0f549ee7ae">Read frequently asked questions.</a>

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We could lose fifteen firefighters and the capacity to operate one of our fire engines. Our department is already understaffed, with 108 people to serve a city of almost 70,000.- Ken Guiel, Union President, Malden Firefighters Local 902

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<h2>FAQs about Tiered Ballots</h2>Does the question that gets the highest percentage of YES votes prevail?No. It’s the highest dollar amount that gets more than 50%, even if a different question gets a higher percentage.&nbsp;&nbsp; If more than one question gets more than 50% of YES votes, will the override be for both of those amounts of money put together?No. Only the highest dollar amount that gets more than 50% will be the amount of the override.&nbsp; What if I only support one of the amounts?You can vote however you choose, but be aware that voting YES on only one question increases the risk that no override passes at all. Many voters choose to support both questions to ensure that at least some level of funding is approved.

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When a community needs to raise more revenue than Prop 2½ allows, state law gives voters the power to approve an "override" — a permanent increase to the tax levy that becomes part of the base budget going forward.&nbsp; An override isn't a workaround or a loophole; it's the mechanism specifically built into the law to allow communities to invest in services that matter to them.&nbsp;Malden has never passed an override in its history. The March 31st vote represents the first time residents will decide whether to authorize additional funding to address the City's budget gap and prevent cuts to essential services.

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What's at stake in Malden's override election on March 31st

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Coalition of elected officials, unions, &amp; community members urges 'YES on both' to prevent cuts, layoffsThe Yes! for Malden campaign announced more than a dozen endorsements in support of the Proposition 2 ½ override ballot question, which aims to raise revenues and preserve critical City services from deep cuts and prevent dozens of layoffs. The campaign, run by Malden residents, also launched a website this week, <a href="http://yesformalden.org">yesformalden.org</a>, which includes information on the override, including how this ballot question is uniquely tiered to ensure maximum flexibility to voters, and how residents can pitch in to help ensure success before the March 31st election. The Malden Police Patrolmen’s Association, the Malden Education Association, Greater Boston Labor Council, Malden Firefighters 902, and Malden Public Library Local 3945 have all endorsed the campaign. More unions have indicated they will take votes in support of the measure, slated to increase revenues by either $5.4 million or $8.2 million to offset budget pressures and preserve jobs.&nbsp; "Without additional revenue, Malden will be forced to make cuts that touch nearly every aspect of civic life. Public safety, services for seniors, educational supports, and access to community programs would all be placed at risk," shares Deb Gesualdo, a music teacher and labor organizer with the Malden Teachers Association. “Educators and municipal employees are already working within systems stretched thin. Any further reduction in personnel or services will have a disproportionate effect on families and neighborhoods across the city." Many public officials have announced their support, including Mayor Gary Christenson, Council President Amanda Linehan, Councilors Carey McDonald, Karen Colon Hayes, Michelle Luong, Peg Crowe, Paul Condon, Ari Taylor, and Steve Winslow. On the school committee, Members Dawn Macklin, Elizabeth Hortie, Peter Piazza, and Keith Bernard are also endorsing the effort.&nbsp; “As a fiscal conservative, I’m generally skeptical of tax increases," said Councillor Paul Condon. "But I’ve looked at the budget, I’ve asked the questions, and I’m voting Yes for the override because Malden doesn’t have a spending problem – we have a revenue problem.” ELECTION INFORMATION <ul><li>Election Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026, 7am-8pm</li><li>Early Voting: Begins March 16 at City Hall Clerk's Office (second floor)</li><li>Vote by Mail: Applications available now </li></ul>Voters can learn more, find out about early voting options, and access detailed budget information at <a href="http://www.yesformalden.org">www.yesformalden.org</a>.&nbsp;

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Police, Fire, Teachers, Librarians Join City Leaders in Backing Malden Override

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The override ballot question gives voters multiple options: vote to approve an $8.2 million increase, vote to approve a $5.4 million increase, or vote no to the override. We explain this "tiered" ballot question here.

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Proposition 2½ is a state law that governs how cities like Malden can raise money through property taxes. Cities raise taxes only 2.5% every year, unless voters approve a tax override.

Malden's budget

$8.2 million override will give voters a choice to preserve city services, prevent devastating layoffs in public safety &amp; other key jobsThe Malden City Council last night voted unanimously to place the city’s first-ever operating override on a March 31 special election ballot, marking the first time in the city’s history that Malden has ever come to the voters with a Proposition 2 1/2 tax override request. Voters will have the option to vote for two dollar amounts, $5.4 or $8.2 million, and the selection that receives the majority of votes will prevail.The $5.4 million figure will help close the Fiscal 2027 budget shortfall, but will necessitate dozens of layoffs and cuts to city services including library hours, language services and public safety jobs, and leave a substantial school funding gap, according to City officials; the $8.2 million figure will close both the city and school budget shortfalls, and require minimal or no layoffs and cuts to city services.The city has already taken steps to address the budget crisis this year, including switching health insurance plans to save an estimated $3 million, restructuring pension payments, upgrading energy efficiency in buildings, bringing in new grants, increasing permit and license fees, and implementing a hiring freeze. Still, a shortfall for the years ahead remains. “Our community, like so many others, is facing a financial crisis due to forces beyond our control – inflation, health care costs, school spending requirements, and a failure of state and local revenues to keep up. While we have worked hard to contain costs, that alone is not enough to preserve the services our residents depend upon,” said Malden Mayor Gary Christenson. “Our community now has a choice: to vote yes to protect our city services like public safety, public works, library and more, or vote no and see widespread cuts across departments. I am grateful to my colleagues on the City Council for their unanimous support in placing this override on the ballot. I have faith in our residents to come together to support the city services that we all rely on to make Malden strong.”Proposition 2 1/2 is a Massachusetts law enacted in 1980 that strictly limits the amount of property tax revenue a municipality can raise annually. It caps the tax levy each year at a 2.5% increase over the previous year’s valuation. Because local income taxes are prohibited in Massachusetts and local sales taxes are severely limited by state law, property taxes are the main mechanism for raising local revenue; the only way to overcome the 2.5% cap is to adopt an override by special election.Local labor unions have rallied around the override proposal, signaling their support for avoiding job losses and cuts to public safety and citing a growing mismatch between municipalities’ ability to raise adequate revenue to provide basic city services amidst inflation, stagnating state aid and the decades-old cap on property taxes. “Malden Firefighters Local 902 stands united with our fellow city unions in support of the upcoming Proposition 2 1/2 vote,” said Ken Guiel, President Malden Firefighters Local 902. “With Malden’s growing population and an increase in fire incidents, our staffing levels – already below national standards – cannot afford further reductions. Any cuts would slow emergency response times and significantly increase safety risks for both our residents and the firefighters who protect them.”Earlier this year, the City Council voted to make a major adjustment to the city’s health plan covering all municipal and school employees, switching from private coverage to the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC), which is projected to save around $3 million in the next fiscal year’s budget. Further cost reductions are expected to come through a hiring freeze, increases in some fees, and other cuts already being made within departments."The members of the Malden Education Association care deeply about the future of this city," states Deb Gesualdo, Malden Education Association President. "We want Malden to remain a community where families can thrive and where municipal workers have the resources they need to provide high-quality services. Educators and municipal employees are already working within systems stretched thin, and any further reduction in personnel or services will have a disproportionate effect on families and neighborhoods across the city. An override is needed to ensure a strong future for our community.”Patrick Kinnon, Vice President of the Malden Police Patrolmen’s Association echoed the need for investment, adding, “On behalf of the hard working men and women of the Malden Police Patrolmen’s Association, we stand in strong support for the proposed Proposition 2 1⁄2 override. Our members are committed to serving Malden with professionalism, compassion, and dedication, but they need adequate staffing levels and resources to meet the community’s needs. Reductions would have widespread impacts in our community. An override would provide the financial stability needed to hire and train new officers, maintain essential public safety operations, and prevent further erosion of the services our residents rely upon. We believe that investing in public safety is an investment in the quality of life for every resident, business owner, and visitor in Malden.”“Malden has a long history of revolutionary action on behalf of its people. The library is a prime example of what investing in this community can create,” said Cait Quinn, President of the Malden Public Library Union, AFSCME Local 3945. “In this economically uncertain time Malden must continue to serve the growing needs of this community and we must have the funding necessary to meet the challenges we face. It is crucial that our community come together to pass this override, so our future reflects Malden’s founding vision.”The City has set up a webpage with more information on the override, municipal budget challenges, and impacts to individual homeowners, including the amount residents can expect to pay on their property tax bills each quarter if the override passes. There will also be a series of public forums scheduled across the city in January and February where residents can find out information on the election and ask questions. Learn more at <a href="https://www.cityofmalden.org/override" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CityofMalden.org/Override.</a>

Malden City Council Votes to Place City’s First-Ever Override on March Ballot

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Malden is facing a financial crisis - only the voters can stop dozens of layoffs across police, fire, DPW, library, and other City departments. Join us as we come together to protect the things that matter in our community.