Advocating for the only sustainable solution to Stoneham's budget crisis:
the passage of a Proposition 2½ override on Tuesday, December 9th
Stoneham is facing an URGENT financial crisis
Stoneham's costs have outpaced revenue for years. Proposition 2½ limits tax growth to 2.5%, while inflation, costs, and service needs soar. The town has already cut millions from its budget--deeper cuts are on the way next year with a state takeover possible.
Every department is underfunded and short-staffed. A Proposition 2½ override isn't optional--it's essential to prevent devastating cuts and keep services afloat.
What's at stake with the Dec 9th vote?
On Tuesday, December 9th, Stoneham residents have one of three choices: pass a $12.5m override, pass a $9.3m override, or leave Stoneham to face devastating cuts with no override at all. This handy table breaks down what each option means for our community:
| 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.
Schools are in crisis
Over $5M cut in 3 years, 40 staff positions lost, underpaid teachers, and devastating cuts ahead.
Our schools have made more than $5 million cuts to teachers and staff, programming, and services over the past 3 years.
Our teachers, who earn as much as 30% below market rate, have been without a contract since July 2025.
The district projects ongoing annual budget deficits of between at least $1.6 million and $1.8 million.
We're losing experienced teachers and failing to attract new ones: the district was struggling to hire for 28 vacant positions at the start of this school year, most of which were created by veterans that cited salary as their reason for leaving Stoneham.
Our ability to staff classrooms with qualified educators is at serious risk.
Police & Fire are dangerously understaffed
Fire staffing is below safety standards. Police staffing is insufficient for a town of Stoneham's size.
We average 8 firefighters per shift in Stoneham; national safety standards call for 16.
This low fire department staffing means that firefighters on site at a fire must decide between putting out and venting a fire or doing a search and rescue.
A town Stoneham's size should have 46 to 48 police officers; we have 40.
Budget constraints mean that both departments have hiring freezes. Without sufficient staff, the departments are forced to spend more than $1 million per year on overtime to ensure shift coverage.
Our fire station, built in 1916, is too small for modern equipment, forcing off-site storage for trucks that the department actively uses.
"Current staffing is below safety standards and limits effective response."Chief Grafton
Compared to our neighbors, Stoneham spends and staffs far less on public safety
| Fire Budget | Police Budget | |
|---|---|---|
| Melrose | $6.3 million | $5.9 million |
| Reading | $6.4 million | $6.4 million |
| Wakefield | $7.2 million | $7.5 million |
| Stoneham | $4.5 million | $5.5 million |
| Fire Staff | Fire Stations | Police (all staff) | Police (patrol staff) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melrose | 51 | 3 | 50 | 35 |
| Reading | 51 | 2 | 46 | 32 |
| Wakefield | 55 | 2 | 47 | 32 |
| Stoneham | 43 | 1 | 40 | 29 |
DPW is running on fumes
We have half the staff of similar towns, failing equipment, and millions in overdue sidewalk repairs.
DPW had 60 employees in 1985. Today it has just 23, less than half that of many comparable neighboring communities.
Our mechanic staff has been cut in half, to just 2 mechanics responsible for the maintenance of 80 pieces of town equipment.
Recent inspections of DPW facilities (built in 1960 and 1976) identified a series of structural integrity issues.
Ongoing budget constraints have prevented us from replacing aging trucks. Stoneham needs at least 6 new pieces of equipment to complete its work effectively and efficiently.
Low staffing also means that things like sidewalk repairs fall by the wayside; Stoneham has at least $5.8 million worth of sidewalk repair backlog.
"We are grossly understaffed for the amount of work that we do."Director Gonzalves
Stoneham public works budget and staffing vs. our neighbors
| Operating budget | Snow and ice removal budget | Staff | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melrose | $3.3 million | $743,000 | 68 |
| Reading | $11.1 million | $675,000 | 52 |
| Wakefield | $7.4 million | $850,000 | 85 |
| Stoneham | $2.1 million | $317,000 | 24 |
The Library and Senior Center are at risk of closure
Recent budget cuts have put essential community services in jeopardy.
Stoneham cut over $100,000 from the library's budget this year, forcing weekend and evening closures and elimination of all paid programming for children, adults, and seniors, and leaving 4 staff vacancies unfilled.
Recent cuts put the library at risk of losing state certification. Loss of certification would mean losing $57,000 in state aid, reciprocal borrowing privileges, and access to grants. Only 4 libraries in MA are uncertified.
Budget cuts mean that Stoneham's Council on Aging "will be in the red at some point this year," putting its transportation, congregate meals, and other services at risk of major reductions.
The Council on Aging no longer has the funds needed to contribute to the salary of a shared staff member with other communities and cannot complete needed repairs to the senior center building.
We can fix it!
Make your plan to Vote YES & YES!
On Tuesday, December 9th, Stoneham voters will decide between two Proposition 2½ override options:
- Question 1: $12.5M - Avoids catastrophic cuts, restores key positions and essential services, helps plan for Stoneham's future.
- Reflects recommendation of Override Study Committee.
- Restores Library and Senior Center services.
- Adequately funds School programs and curriculum; supports recruitment and retention of high-quality teachers.
- Increases DPW staffing and brings Fire and Police staffing closer to minimum standards.
- Question 2: $9.3M - Avoids catastrophic cuts to town services.
- Restores some recent Police and Fire staff cuts.
- Restores recent DPW staff cuts; adds 3 new staff.
- Positions Library to maintain certification.
- Keeps the Senior Center open with reduced services.
- Does not fully fund our Schools.
How Voting Works
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! Voting NO puts Stoneham's future and stability at serious risk.
No override will devastate services across Stoneham.
- Schools will lay off teachers and cut course offerings and programs - we will fail to provide adequate education to Stoneham's children.
- DPW, Police, and Fire will lay off staff.
- Library and Senior Center risk closure.
- Jeopardizes Recreation and Ice Arena operations--any service not mandated by law.
- The town could enter receivership, meaning the state--not Stoneham residents--will make the decisions.