TO THE EDITOR: Town leaders have worked hard to build trust

TO THE EDITOR: Town leaders have worked hard to build trust

To the editor:

Last week at Town Meeting, Marbleheaders came together, as we have for nearly four centuries, to cast important votes on town matters. Our collective effort mirrored the collaboration exhibited over the past few months by our elected officials, town and school administrators and department heads. They made difficult decisions to address years of structural deficits and presented a framework to address revenue shortfalls that was approved by Town Meeting voters. Now it’s up to Marblehead voters to balance their individual finances with a shared love for our great town when we vote on the override on Tuesday, June 9.

An important component of the override is the proposed Memo of Understanding (MOU) that codifies and continues the spirit of collaboration and trust that was established through months of deliberation. This MOU, approved by the Select Board, the School Committee and the Finance Committee and their respective administrative leaders, pledges NOT to seek an additional general override during the next three years if one is approved on June 9. The MOU states a commitment to provide quarterly joint financial reviews of the town and school budgets, to rebuild our Stabilization Fund (a true “rainy day” fund for real emergencies) to 5 percent of our overall operating budget and to continue the fiscal accountability and transparency that has been evident throughout the FY27 deliberations. This MOU and passing an override put us on a path to fiscal sustainability. And for those who say that an MOU has no teeth, I posit that any candidate for office who ignores it does so at their own peril.

On Tuesday, June 9, please join me in voting yes on Questions (Tiers) 1, 2 and 3. Our town leaders have worked hard to build trust — with each other and with all of us — and in return we must continue the spirit of collective commitment to support what makes Marblehead special, whether we use and enjoy each of those services individually or because we know that others depend on them. That’s what binds us together as a community.

Dave Weber
Cliff Street