Proposition 2 ½ is a Massachusetts law passed in 1980 that limits how much a city or town can increase property taxes each year. Under this law, communities can only raise the total amount of property tax revenue by 2.5% annually, plus a small amount from new construction.

The problem is that the cost of providing services like schools, fire, police, and public works has been growing much faster than 2.5%. Over time, this creates a widening gap between what the town can legally collect and what it actually costs to run essential services.

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 town's base budget every year going forward. This allows Stoneham 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. In fact, nearly towns across MA have passed a total of about 1,900 overrides, and 50% of those towns have passed 5 or more overrides. This includes our neighbors in Medford, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, and Wakefield.

For Stoneham, an override is the tool we need to get out of crisis mode and ensure stability.

For years, Stoneham has used reserves, one-time funds, and cost-cutting to get by, but those stopgaps are now exhausted. Without new revenue, we cannot maintain the schools, safety, and services our community depends on. Learn more about the financial challenges facing each town department here.

If the override fails, the town will have no choice but to cut millions of dollars in services. This could include:

• Schools: larger class sizes, fewer teachers, cuts to electives, sports, and special education support.
• Public safety: fewer police officers and firefighters to respond to emergencies.
• DPW: fewer staff to plow roads, fix infrastructure, and maintain parks.
• Library, recreation, senior services: sharp reductions or program eliminations.

These cuts are not "extras"--they strike at the core of what makes Stoneham safe, welcoming, and family-friendly.

The average annual property tax bill in Stoneham was $7,834 in 2025, which is lower than similar nearby towns. Stoneham's residential tax rate and taxes as a percentage of home value are also lower than those of many neighboring communities. See tables below. Property taxes in Stoneham will remain comparably low even if residents approve an override.

Residential Tax Rates

Average Residential Tax Bill

Residential Taxes as a % of Home Value

Once we know the format and the amount of the override that we will vote on on Tuesday, December 9th, you can use our Override Impact Calculator to determine the impact that the override will have on your tax bill.

Even with an override, it is likely that Stoneham's tax rate and spending will remain below many surrounding communities that have already passed overrides. Without action, we risk falling further behind, making it harder to attract families and businesses that keep our town vibrant.

Stoneham has been cutting for years:

• Departments delayed replacing vehicles and equipment.
• Staff vacancies left unfilled.
• Programs scaled back.
• School cuts totaling nearly $5 million since 2024.

Services are already stretched thin. At this point, more cuts mean fewer teachers, police officers, firefighters, and public works staff. Raising revenue is the only way to protect the services residents count on.

No, Stoneham passed a debt exclusion to build the new high school. A debt exclusion is different from a tax override. An override allows for a permanent tax increase to support a town's ongoing operational expenses, such as public safety, schools, and municipal services. A debt exclusion is a temporary tax increase to pay for a specific capital project, such as building a new school or fire station.

Debt exclusions do not impact a town's total tax levy. Once the debt is fully repaid, the tax increase ends. Stoneham's high school debt exclusion enabled the town to raise revenue needed to fund the project above and beyond the more than $50 million in grants for it provided by the Commonwealth. The debt for Stoneham's new high school will be paid off over 30 years.

No, Stoneham does not get a windfall from rising property values. By law, and setting aside new growth, each year Stoneham's total property tax levy can only increase by 2.5%.

The "total property tax levy" is the total amount the town 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 town increases, the tax rate has to decrease so that the total amount of property tax collected increases by only 2.5%. In Stoneham, the residential property tax rate has decreased from $11.49 in 2010 to $10.23 in 2025.

Stoneham is audited each year by an independent accounting firm. In recent years, the audit has been performed by CliftonLarsonAllen LLP , which reviews and reports on the town's financial statements each year. This annual independent audit is a standard requirement for MA municipalities to ensure accountability and transparency in financial reporting. You can find Stoneham's annual audit reports dating back to 2017 here .

There are various state and local tax relief and exemption programs available to eligible residents including seniors, veterans, and blind residents. There are also relief programs for residents facing financial hardship.

You can visit the Real Estate Exemptions section of the Stoneham Town Website to learn about some of these programs.

A yes vote is an investment in Stoneham's future:

• Strong schools with enough teachers and staff.
• Police and fire departments that respond quickly in emergencies.
• A DPW that can maintain roads, parks, and water systems.
• A library and recreation programs that serve families and seniors.

The override is not about luxuries, it's about protecting the essential services that make Stoneham a strong, safe, and desirable place to live. Voting yes ensures Stoneham doesn't slip backwards, but instead stays competitive and sustainable for years to come.

The Select Board (SB) has voted to call a special election for Tuesday, December 9th, 2025 following the Override Study Committee's recommendation for an override.

The OSC and SB are still discussing the amount and format of the vote. Keep checking this site for details on the override format and amount, and how you can VOTE YES.