Advocating for the only sustainable solution to Stoneham's budget crisis:
the passage of a Proposition 2½ override on Tuesday, December 9th
It's time to take action!
What's at Stake
See exactly how each override amount impacts our schools, public safety, library, and essential services.
| OVERRIDE AMOUNT | $12.5M | $9.3M | $0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schools | |||
| Ensures ability to recruit and retain high-quality teachers | ✓ | ? | LAYOFFS 50-60 FTE |
| Restores curriculum, services, and other funding cuts | ✓ | ? | ✗ |
| Retain non-mandated programming (e.g., STEM, library, art, music, world languages, guidance/adjustment counselors, athletics) | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Public Works | |||
| Aligns DPW staffing with comparable neighboring communities | ✗ | ✗ | LAYOFFS |
| Restores and increases staffing | 5 | 5 | ✗ |
| Public Safety: Police and Fire | |||
| Ensures public safety staffing meets minimum safety standards[1] | ✗ | ✗ | LAYOFFS |
| Restores Police Department staff cuts[2] | 7 | 7 | ✗ |
| Increases Police Department staffing | 4 | 1 | ✗ |
| Restores Fire Department staff cuts | 1 | 1 | ✗ |
| Increases Fire Department staffing | 5 | ✗ | ✗ |
| Library, Senior Center, Recreation, and Stoneham Ice Arena | |||
| Restores Library funding cut in FY26 | ✓ | ✓ | CLOSURE LIKELY |
| Restores Recreation Department funding cut in FY26 | ✓ | ✓ | CLOSURE LIKELY |
| Restores Senior Center funding cut in FY26 | ✓ | PARTIAL | CLOSURE LIKELY |
| Maintains operations of Stoneham Ice Arena[3] | ✓ | ✓ | CLOSURE POSSIBLE |
| Town Hall | |||
| Restores Economic Dev. and addiction Prevention & Outreach cuts from FY26 | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Adds Economic Dev. Department Operations staff member | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Aligns with Override Study Committee recommendations | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Avoids "receivership" (state takeover) of Stoneham's budget and governance | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Supports level of service through at least FY29 | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
Notes
1 Stoneham Police Department needs 8 more Patrol Officers to meet standards. A $12.5M override enables hiring of 2 officers. Safety standards call for 16 Firefighters per shift. Stoneham averages 8 Firefighters per shift. A $12.5M override enables hiring of 4 Firefighters, slightly increasing per shift average.
2 Includes 3 Patrol Officers and 4 Traffic Directors.
3 Stoneham Ice Arena generates revenue to sustain its operations, but maintenance and other costs are subsidized by the Town. Without an override, the Town cannot maintain financial support for the Arena.
What's with the "?s" for the Schools?
It is a teacher contract negotiation year for Stoneham Public Schools. Currently, Stoneham teacher pay is as much as 30% below market level.
A $12.5M override ensures Stoneham's ability to recruit and retain high-quality teachers while also restoring curriculum, programming, and service cuts from prior years.
A $9.3M override limits Stoneham's ability to both recruit and retain high-quality teachers and restore cuts from prior years.
Sources
See the Town Administrator's October 21, 2025 presentation to the Select Board for the source information for this table and additional details about what's at stake with each override amount here. Final allocation of town operating funds voted on by residents at the annual May Town Meeting.
Join your neighbors in supporting Stoneham
Residents, town officials, local committees, unions, and community organizations all support a Proposition 2½ override for Stoneham.
Quick voting guide
Remember: Vote YES & YES for the best chance to Save Our Stoneham!
The highest override amount that gets more YES votes than NO votes wins. Only ONE override amount can pass. Voting YES for $12.5M and YES for $9.3M gives us the best chance at saving our Stoneham!
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