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A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

From Patch: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”
Understand the history and purpose of Proposition 2 1/2, the facts about overrides and speak with your neighbors before making your decision
By Victoria Ippolito, Patch Poster I Jan. 17, 2019 4:59PM ET

The "Welcome to Melrose" sign and the Melrose magnets seen on cars around town, symbolize a cohesive community. They symbolize a community that prioritizes the health of the entire city and all its citizens above individual finances. The recent Melrose Taxpayers Alliance article "It's Ok To Vote No" provides misleading, inaccurate information about the importance of the April 2nd vote.

The Melrose Taxpayers' Alliance article states that a vote supporting the override will remove the 2.5% cap forever. This is not true. The override will function as a market correction and will allow the City to collect an addition $5.18 million in revenue next year, and the 2.5% cap will return the following year.

Let's be honest, no one wants to spend more money on taxes. Your neighbor who is in support of the override has looked deeply into this issue. They have engaged with OneMelrose, read the Mayor's blog and State of the City address, spoken with their aldermen, and used their own common sense to determine that it is impossible to sustain the City on a 2.5% annual increase when health insurance costs (among other expenses) increase by 10% or more annually. Your neighbor who is in support of the override has determined that an increase in their personal taxes is an essential expenditure and is money well-spent to keep our city thriving.

Proposition 2.5% was designed to allow taxpayers to anticipate their annual tax expenses, by preventing cities from unilaterally raising taxes without citizen input. In 1980, the drafters of Proposition 2.5% set the annual increase at the lowest possible amount they could imagine inflation rising (2.5%). They set the inflation rate artificially low (generally accepted inflation being 4%) to allow for communities to make their own decisions about when they needed more tax revenue to provide city services. The Mayor, the Aldermen, the CFO, the Superintendent, and the School Board agree that the time is now to ask the citizens to support a tax increase. And frankly, if the override does not pass, the consequences for Melrose are dire.

Since the passage of Proposition 2.5%, the Mass Division of Local Services has determined that communities that are largely residential require override votes every 7-10 years. Melrose is 97% residential, and we have had only one general override vote (in 1992) to provide increased revenue to the City. Melrose is 25 years overdue for a general override vote, and like a house that has not been regularly maintained for 25 years, the cracks are beginning to show.
The Melrose Taxpayers Alliance says that the "2.5% increase limit has served Melrose well for 38 years," but this is a misleading statement. The City avoided

overrides due to the 2.5% cap-exempt new development revenue generated from Oak Grove Village and the Washington St. construction. In effect property owners from out of town have been picking up the bills. While the cap may have been serving individual taxpayers well, the cap has NOT been serving Melrose well. In Melrose, per pupil spending is the 12thlowest in the state and the city is struggling to meet state-required school spending minimums, all city departments have suffered cuts to staff, and the library is in danger of losing its accreditation. This was not the case 38 years ago or 25 years ago when Melrose passed its only general override. But since 1992, the City has been asked to provide the same level of services while mandatory expenses have risen substantially more than 2.5%. As the Mayor says, "without an override, everything that we as a community have worked so hard to create is in jeopardy."

The Melrose Taxpayers Alliance article implies that the override vote is a choice – a choice where it is okay to disagree with your neighbor. However, this is not an insignificant choice, like choosing whether to buy natural or synthetic sunscreen. With either sunscreen, your skin will be protected from damage. In this override vote, the stakes are much higher, like choosing whether to remove a malignant tumor from your body or not. This is not a situation in which is okay to silently disagree with your neighbor and vote "no," because you think everything will all come out okay. Like a tumor, the City's revenue problems will only continue to grow, and they will impact all aspects of life in Melrose. Your vote on the override impacts everyone in this City, and if you are considering quietly voting "no", please reach out to your neighbor and learn why they are voting "yes," before you cast your vote.

Victoria Ippolito

Melrose Resident

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Honestly I would have considered a YES vote if the city waited until a Mayor that we voted in was in place. I feel like this was so rushed. I would liked to have heard the new Mayors plans for the money. Mayor Dolan leaves and bam override on a special election vote that will cost us money and interim Mayor! Why? The modular system is in place so kids are not overcrowded. We could have waited a bit. . Last year everyone was so pleased because our schools are doing great! If they at least waited until November I might have considered it. In the meantime I am paying my grossly high water bill and my new higher tax bill while my employer told me no raises this year. I am sorry but everyone needs to remember it will not be easy for all and this needs to be understood. We moved to Melrose because at that time it was affordable. I don’t want to be like Winchester, I chose Melrose so yes it is ok to vote NO



Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”



If the Override passes, when are the BOA coming back to fund Public Safety Buildings, Memorial Hall and the Library? Voting No because other needs have been ignored and neglected for decades and taxpayers will be hit up again soon. Poor planning, management and extremely poor COMMUNICATION! Hope the “Rhetoric” regarding wanting “Citizen Commentary” and a pledge of “Transparency” is more than lip service. Lemmerman and Lipper-Garabedian tried to close down “Public Participation” at the meeting the other night until Mortimer’s motion that allowed people to speak.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

The OneMelrose letter by Victoria Ippolitto is conspicuously misleading. The $5.18 million will remain in the tax levy Forever along with an increase of 2.5% on it each year. While in subsequent years after FY 2020 there will remain a 2.5 % cap, the 5.18 million is on the tax levy forever!!!! The 5.18 million doesn’t just go on the tax levy for one year it is there forever!!! To keep that in perspective the 5.18 million alone represents approximately 9% of the current FY 19 levy

The OneMelrose poster appears to be all confused about how 2.5% was determined back in 1980. In her article she stated “the drafters of of Prop2.5% set the annual increase at the lowest possible amount they could imagine inflation rising” The writer states the generally accepted inflation rate is 4% .” Where is that number coming from??The writer appears to be as ignorant about the facts of inflation in 1980 as she is about the facts of the city today. The inflation rate in 1979 was more than 11% and in 1980 it was more than 13%. The average inflation rate since 1992 is only 2.26%.

It’s clear OneMelrose needs to continue to manipulate the facts as reason is not on their side.OneMelrose continues to put out fake facts and expects others simply to accept them and turn to their view.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”


Ms. Ippolitto is right that the Override Vote should not be taken lightly. Many, many Melrosians cannot afford it. The recent statistics being publicized since the Government shutdown are staggering. 87% of full time workers nationwide live paycheck to paycheck and 4 in 10 Americans couldn’t cover a $400.00 emergency. Families like my own are very worried about our finances. Our Taxes went up over $600 this year before the OVERRIDE increase, the water bills remain very high and the recession talk is scary. We do not take our NO vote lightly. We are tired of being accused of not supporting Melrose Values. We are tired of Melrose politics. We are tired of worrying.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Concerned parent.
The OneMelrose letter by Victoria Ippolitto is conspicuously misleading. The $5.18 million will remain in the tax levy Forever along with an increase of 2.5% on it each year. While in subsequent years after FY 2020 there will remain a 2.5 % cap, the 5.18 million is on the tax levy forever!!!! The 5.18 million doesn’t just go on the tax levy for one year it is there forever!!! To keep that in perspective the 5.18 million alone represents approximately 9% of the current FY 19 levy

The OneMelrose poster appears to be all confused about how 2.5% was determined back in 1980. In her article she stated “the drafters of of Prop2.5% set the annual increase at the lowest possible amount they could imagine inflation rising” The writer states the generally accepted inflation rate is 4% .” Where is that number coming from??The writer appears to be as ignorant about the facts of inflation in 1980 as she is about the facts of the city today. The inflation rate in 1979 was more than 11% and in 1980 it was more than 13%. The average inflation rate since 1992 is only 2.26%.

It’s clear OneMelrose needs to continue to manipulate the facts as reason is not on their side.OneMelrose continues to put out fake facts and expects others simply to accept them and turn to their view.

Nope, you're misleading...again. Here's an easy example:

For the Boston, MA region, if the budget was $100 in 1980 (the year Prop 2.5 passed) to have the same purchasing power in 2018 that would cost you $335.17 (3.23% average inflation per year).

Based on the levy cap of 2.5% per year, without an override during that same time period your budget could only be $199.65. The magic of falling behind on compounding inflation!!!!

However, all of this misses the big point that MELROSE IS NOT PROVIDING THE SAME SERVICES IT WAS IN 1980! Or 1992! Or 2000! Let's think about how that could be.........um, more PEOPLE so more children in schools, police needed to patrol and wear-and-tear on City infrastructure? Or, more HOUSES so more firefighters needed to protect lives and property?

Regardless of inflation (for which our budget is not keeping up), the City is GROWING, which is a good thing. Well, a good thing to most people not actually posting on Melrose Messages.

Stop picking at a single statistic and raising the alarm...you do this a lot.

Oh and if I wasn't so charitable, I might say that it is pretty disingenuous to cite the broad national U.S. Inflation stats instead of the Boston, Massachusetts stats because it "fits your narrative." Did I use that phrase right? The Bureau of Labor Statistics has all kinds of regionally segmented data readily available, but you and I both know it is better to pull in all those rural locations to make your case fleshed out. How else are you going to depress the average inflation rates you cite by 8%??

Get a different slant.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Hey "Stop it" (or perhaps we should say, Jessica or Jen, since the message has the obnoxious and condescending tone of both of those women),

Funny how you think you have a right to tell others who disagree with you to "Stop it," and you condemn what you view as cherrypicking, and then you go on to do exactly that. But that is just so Trumpian and so typical of the "One" crowd, always projecting onto others what they themselves do with zero filters or concern.

You say Melrose residents don't get the same services they got in 1980 (interesting choice). What precisely does Melrose not provide now that was provided then?

Oh yeah, there is that illegal trash fee.... But that was the choice of a mayor quite willing to do end-runs around Prop. 2.5, just as the current illegitimate mayor is doing now. If you're saying that was provided then but the city cannot provide it now, there is no evidence for that. And if citizens file suit against the city for this illegal tax, there is a good chance the suit would win. Like so many things, it requires litigation, and most are just not willing and/or able to go that route. But given the outrageous balls and conduct of city officials, it is inevitable that the filth will all be revealed at some point, right along with all the slush funds and illegal expenditures (yeah, how about those Shaws cards and rent payments for city residents that are being funneled straight out of the city coffers with zero legally required controls (and NOT from the city's general funds!), totally against the law!?). This was another little scheme of Patrick and Rob to buy votes and rope in the incredibly gullible Melrose public to participate for feel-good points, when it never passed even the most basic sniff test!

This little gem is particularly precious, given the One folks' obedient rehashing of the city's tiresome and fear-mongering talking points: "Stop picking at a single statistic and raising the alarm." In the same breath the sycophants praise the "city management" (mismanagement) and performance (financial, schools, etc.) to the hilt, and in the next, there are the imagined and/or self-created crises (a la Trump once again). And since when do "Boston stats" need to be referenced? Melrose isn't Boston, the last anyone checked, but it certainly is within the United States.

Ugh!

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Ippolito’s Choice

Ms. Ippolitto is right that the Override Vote should not be taken lightly. Many, many Melrosians cannot afford it. The recent statistics being publicized since the Government shutdown are staggering. 87% of full time workers nationwide live paycheck to paycheck and 4 in 10 Americans couldn’t cover a $400.00 emergency. Families like my own are very worried about our finances. Our Taxes went up over $600 this year before the OVERRIDE increase, the water bills remain very high and the recession talk is scary. We do not take our NO vote lightly. We are tired of being accused of not supporting Melrose Values. We are tired of Melrose politics. We are tired of worrying.

Our family, too. Worried about $, can’t afford an Override and tired of people trying to make us feel badly when we raise questions or disagree. There are people living on the edge all over Melrose. There are many Melrose families who are part of the 87% (including mine) who live paycheck to paycheck. We will be voting NO, too. Others can try and shame or scare us but we are voting NO to protect our personal circumstances.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

The population of Melrose in the 1980s was higher when prop 2.5 was enacted . Look at the census report from those years as well as the school enrollment. Obviously you have not been here long. The average inflation since 2000 for the Boston area was 2.28% if you have a different number cite your source.

http://www.in2013dollars.com/Boston-Massachusetts/price-inflation

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”


The academic statistics and rhetorical debate of “facts” will not convince anyone to vote Yes or No. People will decide based on their family circumstances. How they view Melrose politicians and their track records will also be a factor.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Much of the talk in Melrose of late has centered on the upcoming tax override vote, with each side of the debate making their presence known and stating their respective cases to all who will listen.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

I talked to my neighbors. They're voting NO.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Can someone explain why this had to be brought to a "special election"? Why couldn't it be voted on during a normal election cycle?

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

They are hoping to get lower voter turnout in order to pass it. Everyone equates Election Day to November. They mayor and proponents will suggest it’s because fiscal year begins July 1. However, the fiscal year begins every year on July 1. Think about it. The 2015 override was in November and the citizens spoke loud and clear in soundly defeating it.Their only chance to ever pass an override is through a special election. If the election was in November instead of April it would only impact one fiscal year. The cost for the special election at all 14 precincts is 25-30k. Seems such a waste when a mandated election is 7 months later. Additionally, the mayor has been discussing override plans since last April. She could have asked BOA toput it on November 2018 ballot. However, she knows it would be defeated by a wide margin if election is in November. Shameful!!!

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Why was it held in November 2015 come on Man? Delaying it until November would impact only 1 fiscal year(FY 20). Nice try though.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Much of the talk in Melrose of late has centered on the upcoming tax override vote, with each side of the debate making their presence known and stating their respective cases to all who will listen.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Finally I get to say NO. I Vote NO!

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Victoria Ippolito’s analogy suggesting the override vote is similar to a cancer patient choosing whether or not to remove a malignant tumor is insensitive and quite frankly despicable. There are people going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments right now. Some of who can’t afford the increase in taxes. My 93 year old grandmother and her neighbors were horrified by her insensitivity. Victoria Ippolito acts as if the city will die tomorrow if it does not raise the tax levy by 9%(5.18 million). Would it only last a couple of weeks if we did a more responsible $2 million override? . Let’s not get dramatic about it, ok? Based upon what I have learned , the dire financial projections of FY 20 have been unsubstantiated
By city hall and contradicted by numerous independent parties who have no vested interest.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Ippolito is a lawyer and her husband a Professor. There home is valued close to a million. She is a BFF of Sam Hammar whose house is valued in the same range. “Glamour gals” who live on Bartlett Street and are focused on their own agendas. Ippolito is as helpful to the passage of the Override as Cedar Park Mary who doesn’t believe in Affordable Housing. Her lack of sensitivity regarding cancer patients is unconscionable. I hope she never sees the loves of her life battle and die from cancer.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Oh Come on, Man you are as sick as Donald Trump,

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Ippolito is another carpetbagger like Hammar. Before she got her law degree and became a real estate specialist (what a surprise!) her undergrad degree was given in English and Education. She taught in Brookline (what a surprise!) for 1 year, eleven months, and at some muckety-muck charter school for (guess what?) 1 year, eleven months (what a surprise!)

They live in Melrose but they are not Melrose. They blow in with the wind, spend all their time thinking they know better than everyone else, and then blow out again when it suits them, leaving a mess in their wake. Their only sense of loyalty is to themselves.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

What A Surprise!
Ippolito is another carpetbagger like Hammar. Before she got her law degree and became a real estate specialist (what a surprise!) her undergrad degree was given in English and Education. She taught in Brookline (what a surprise!) for 1 year, eleven months, and at some muckety-muck charter school for (guess what?) 1 year, eleven months (what a surprise!)

They live in Melrose but they are not Melrose. They blow in with the wind, spend all their time thinking they know better than everyone else, and then blow out again when it suits them, leaving a mess in their wake. Their only sense of loyalty is to themselves.
If being Melrose means calling my neighbor a carpet bagger for being engaged in local politics despite having moved here from elsewhere, then I don't particularly want to be your kind of Melrose either.

And yet your side whines about how the yes voters are mean and call names.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Victoria Ippolito’s letter states “neighbors used their on common sense to determine it is impossible to sustain the city on 2.5% annual increase when health insurance (among other costs) increase by 10% or more annually.” Seriously??? What percentage does Ippolito’s think the city’s health insurance costs increased by the last few years? Clearly, Ippolito’s letter is devoid of Any Facts. The argument that it is impossible to sustain the city on a 2.5% annual increases reinforces the argument we shouldn’t be adding nearly 30 new positions in FY 20 and the associated expenses with It to the budget. If 2.5% isn’t sustainable, then catching up this year won’t make a difference. After a couple of years there would be a need for another override unless there are layoffs from the new positions.

Additionally, Ippolito letter states “your neighbor who is in support of the override has determined it is an essential expenditure and is money well kept to keep our city thriving. Seriously?? This is an elitist view. The majority of my neighbors are loud no votes. My neighbors make their own decisions with the limited understanding of politics behind the budget, but don’t expect me to rely upon your incomplete analysis of the circumstances to make my decision. One thing is clear is that the city’s so-called dire financial projections is contradicted by independent third parties.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Carpetbagger | Definition of Carpetbagger by Merriam-Webster
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carpetbagger

Definition of carpetbagger. 1 : a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments. 2 : a nonresident or new resident who seeks private gain from an area often by meddling in its business or politics.

If the shoe fits.


Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

What A Surprise!
Carpetbagger | Definition of Carpetbagger by Merriam-Webster
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carpetbagger

Definition of carpetbagger. 1 : a Northerner in the South after the American Civil War usually seeking private gain under the reconstruction governments. 2 : a nonresident or new resident who seeks private gain from an area often by meddling in its business or politics.

If the shoe fits.


That definition leaves out the fact that it's an insult.

Also, what is the private gain? She'll have to pay more in taxes, all for public gains. She's not getting any kind of private benefit. Whatever benefit she receives if the override succeeds, we all receive. Same with drawbacks. Unless, of course, you're accusing her of some kind of corruption or kickback scheme, whicj I certainly hope isn't the case.

So from where I'm sitting, the shoe doesn't fit at all, and you guys are still *******s.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Real estate gains. Duh.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

What A Surprise!
Ippolito is another carpetbagger like Hammar. Before she got her law degree and became a real estate specialist (what a surprise!) her undergrad degree was given in English and Education. She taught in Brookline (what a surprise!) for 1 year, eleven months, and at some muckety-muck charter school for (guess what?) 1 year, eleven months (what a surprise!)

They live in Melrose but they are not Melrose. They blow in with the wind, spend all their time thinking they know better than everyone else, and then blow out again when it suits them, leaving a mess in their wake. Their only sense of loyalty is to themselves.
Disagree with her viewpoint if you want, but looking up someone’s past residences, jobs and other information is - frankly - disgusting. She had the conviction to post her views and also post her name (which you, unsurprisingly, have not) and you essentially doxx her? What the hell? We all know what you’re doing: trying to intimidate someone posting a viewpoint that is opposed to yours.

This goes for this post and also the other thread where I assume you used the same “sleuthing” skills. Be careful, ISP’s are legally required to disclose the identity of “anonymous” posters in response to a subpoena.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

What A Surprise!
Real estate gains. Duh.
... Gains that we would all receive? Or, you know, a public benefit? An improving housing market helps us all, not just her.

Duh.

You people and your bs conspiracies are, as the previous poster said, disgusting.

I love that your argument is basically "this terrible woman is trying to help our home values go higher!" oh, the horror.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

I think it’s April 2 2019.
It’s all smoke and mirrors so just put on the mask and breathe deep into the illusion.
Wake up and vote No!

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”


Home Values are not the most important thing for most people. It won’t matter what the assessed value of their property, if someone cannot afford to pay the tax bill.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

There are no existing checks and balances for are school;s.Just look at the things that should not have came to light

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

The Mismanagement lack of Transparency and Coverups.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Educated and informed voter.We do have.Just to get even basic information in order to make informed decisions on important votes. The voters will do April 2 2019.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

The reason you don't see many administration supporters posting here is because every time they do try to pass on the administration's propaganda, they are totally and thoroughly debunked with facts they can't dispute.

The administration is scared to death of this site, both now, and in it's prior incarnation. Why else do you think Dolan banned access to it, a practice that continues to this day?

This is the only place where voters can get even a portion of the truth. They certainly can't get it from city officials, who continue to mislead, obfuscate, and outright lie about all things fiscal. Melrose is a house of cards. The sooner that house of cards collapses, the sooner we can get a mulligan and fix the mess we've allowed to happen.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Finally I get to say NO. I Vote NO!

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

April 2 2019.
It’s all smoke and mirrors so just put on the mask and breathe deep into the illusion.
Wake up and vote No!

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

How is it that the powers that be would not schedule or pay for a Special Election for something as critically important as replacing the mayor for two years, but suddenly the city can afford to do this for another override referendum?

As far as many of us are concerned, if the city wants an override and special election, it can first prove the facts of the matter with a full forensic audit (and yes, that is costly, also). This local administration has played fast and loose with plenty of "alternate facts" for the last 15 years, and it's time for some real accountability. They want an override, so they can produce actual provable facts, and that doesn't mean the kind of obviously incomplete and/or outright false representations that have come from this administration, city solicitor, city auditor, board of aldermen, and certainly a proven lying/cheating school committee and superintendent. These are the same ones who conspired to keep inconvenient truths like many federal civil rights violations from the public and even an elected official! So there is absolutely no reason to trust those who are now calling for another override based on similar lines of hand-wringing as before. Do a full and complete audit with a reputable, not-in-the-tank firm and prove the facts. Only then might there be any credibility from this Melrose city government.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Much of the talk in Melrose of late has centered on the upcoming tax override vote, with each side of the debate making their presence known and stating their respective cases to all who will listen.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Never Answered
The reason you don't see many administration supporters posting here is because every time they do try to pass on the administration's propaganda, they are totally and thoroughly debunked with facts they can't dispute.

The administration is scared to death of this site, both now, and in it's prior incarnation. Why else do you think Dolan banned access to it, a practice that continues to this day?

This is the only place where voters can get even a portion of the truth. They certainly can't get it from city officials, who continue to mislead, obfuscate, and outright lie about all things fiscal. Melrose is a house of cards. The sooner that house of cards collapses, the sooner we can get a mulligan and fix the mess we've allowed to happen.
I'm curious where YOUR sources come from, or anyone else on this site claiming to be the ONLY place to find the truth and the facts about the budget and financial situation of the city. You don't offer a source, you don't have any facts to back up your claims. It is always just "I'm right, they're wrong!" even though they're showing voters years worth of data collected not just by Melrose but by the State.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

You SHOULD take the time to read this post because it explains why the Override will fail.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

from MFPress:
Chief Financial Officer and Auditor Patrick Dello Russo said the city’s educational budget had never really recovered from the global economic downturn of a decade ago, and the subsequent drop-off in state and federal funding.

“We lost over $3 million in federal aid since fiscal 09, $3 million that never came back,” he said. “We witnessed in this city state aid to Melrose decrease by over $1.9 million overnight, from fiscal 09 to fiscal 10. Unprecedented. Close to $2 million we lost in one year. That’s more money than we take in in full taxes and new growth. And we had to operate the city based on that dynamic. Unprecedented.”

Nothing new here except that there is a new batch of gullible and willfully ignorant parents lapping up the same lies that PdR and RD have been dishing out for quite a few years now, always crying wolf with the nonsense about missing federal aid. Go back to the pre-failedoverride powerpoints put out by them and you will find the same purposeful misrepresentations centering around the Stimulus Funds, amounts that were always intended to be finite, not annual padding. The federal govt did not suddenly pull funds that were intended to be allocated year after year. These were a one-time "boost," as it were, though RD and PdR continue (purposely!) to portray those amounts as if they are being overtly denied now. [There are, in fact, other areas of federal and state funding that Trump and Baker have chosen or threatened to withhold that would be or is already very detrimental to various vulnerable populations and school systems, but that is not what the spinmasters have chosen to focus on (RD has been sucking up to Baker for years now, hoping to get a position in his stable, which is never going to happen).]

The misrepresentation of the Stimulus funds is a sleight of hand quite typical of these oily mismanagers, the same ones who somehow magically come up with hundreds of thousands, or even millions, as in the case of the override year ($3.5 million, to be precise, just a few months after their wolf-crying and lying about the override) in so-called "free cash," which is then doled out like Halloween candy in all sorts of Melrose pork-barrel handouts. This annual exercise of the slush-fund dispensing should be obvious to any residents with an ounce of critical thinking skills, but this batch of sycophant parents and officials have their own special breed of willful ignorance, many equating the questioning of Melrose officials as tantamount to being unpatriotic, deserving of public shaming and shunning. (Melrose bullying, starting with that by officials, is so prevalent that Trump and his goons could actually take lessons from the many ugly facets that typify the current culture here.)

The lies around the "missing" federal funding goes hand in hand with the failure to mention that each year the school system has manage to extort typically an extra $2 million or so each year from the overall city budget, with what amounts to zero accountability. Meanwhile the Melrose Ed Foundation manages to count on the mayor's handout (not legit!) of at least $10,000 a year to them directly instead of allocating that through the school budget, solely so that he could buy more votes and have the pipeline of the feelgood "awards" given by the Foundation to "minigrants" in a process unvetted by the appropriate legal body, the school committee. Then there are the other feelgood handouts to the Messina "grants," the totally illegal funneling of city funds through the Emergency Fund (handing out Target and Shaws cards, paying rent/mortgage, etc., all without appropriate accounting controls required by law--something the IRS and state auditor/inspector general should have a field day with!). Then there's the ever-shady misuse of Revolving Accounts, one of the biggest sources of the mayor's annual slush funds, along with the Special Education and Transportation accounts where the superintendent has admitted publicly a lot of purposeful vagaries get charged to, especially in a contract negotiation year when calculating salaries for the budget can't be done exactly. (Note: Knowledgeable and ethical business managers know how to do this legally and responsibly, something that is foreign to the oily types--as in snake oil--that have been at it in Melrose for too long now.)

And then the CFO pounds further the propaganda: "An override should not be unthinkable, Dello Russo argued, as it would represent a conscious choice by voters to prioritize education, especially amide the wave of young families moving to Melrose." Translation: If you dare to criticize another override, you are clearly a monster who doesn't support children or the "young families moving to Melrose" (the target audience, of course, since the parents of older children have already learned, if they are half awake, that they've been sold a bill of goods, that this school system is far below mediocre now, that having "conscious choice" about your own children means trying to get them out--for those that can, since so many bought houses far more expensive than they are actually worth--before their high school transcripts are so poor that their children's futures have been permanently limited).

Then the nonsense gets the school official spin:

"Taymore made the same point, warning of a downward spiral that could result from parents pulling their children out of the city’s public schools, further reduced state funding, and continuously shrinking school budgets and services.
“It is a vicious cycle,” Taymore said."

Ya think?! But she sure as hell is going to take her $180,000+ salary, despite the many statistical and legal facts surrounding her many horrible actions pointing to an administration that is a comprehensive mess, top to bottom. She certainly doesn't want anyone to look under the hood, least of all those useless school committee members who are keeping the festering stench tightly concealed.

"“We’re neither fish nor foul; we’re not poor enough for a lot of state and federal grants, we’re not wealthy enough to fund ourselves,” said Taymore. “There is no easy solution here. Melrose does not have an industrial base. We are totally dependent on your taxes on your homes.”
Taymore said voters will eventually have to choose whether to increase funding for education, or see Melrose’s schools begin to fall behind. Stopgap measures designed to delay the inevitable will no longer work."

"Begin to fall behind"????!!!!! Now that takes balls! MHS students have been demonstrating national test scores BELOW the State Average (which means comparisons with some of the poorest communities in the Commonwealth) since 2011 (Taymore arrived in 2010). Those scores were mediocre under Casey, but they're worse now. They (CT and school committee) hide the wretched results in blustery spin about how many students are in AP classes, etc., but truly they are hiding the truth and/or flat out lying.

They also fail to mention how many millions of wasted tax dollars have had to go towards defending the illegal and indefensible actions of this school administration/school committee in the last 15 years. It is a staggering amount that only a full forensic audit would reveal, something direly needed more than ever now if Melrose is to climb out of the fiscal and legal mess in which it finds itself.

So, Mr. CFO, you and your venal accomplices keep pointing that increasingly long nose of yours at all of us. Many, it seems, are susceptible to your, how shall we say, misrepresentations and annual fear-mongering. But plenty are onto you and your creepy, patronizing spiels. We also know about your highly questionable past in other locales when it comes to water/sewer fiascos. So when you decide to "retire" and when remaining officials mandate and budget a full forensic audit that explains what really happened all these years with school monies, legal expenditures/settlements, cemetery accounts, retirement board manipulations, special education funds, Emergency Fund monies, and on and on, then we can talk about what it means to "prioritize" our values, AFTER a full accounting of all the wrong-doing has been brought fully to light and addressed.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Honestly I would have considered a YES vote if the city waited until a Mayor that we voted in was in place. I feel like this was so rushed. I would liked to have heard the new Mayors plans for the money. Mayor Dolan leaves and bam override on a special election vote that will cost us money and interim Mayor! Why? The modular system is in place so kids are not overcrowded. We could have waited a bit. . Last year everyone was so pleased because our schools are doing great! If they at least waited until November I might have considered it. In the meantime I am paying my grossly high water bill and my new higher tax bill while my employer told me no raises this year. I am sorry but everyone needs to remember it will not be easy for all and this needs to be understood. We moved to Melrose because at that time it was affordable. I don’t want to be like Winchester, I chose Melrose so yes it is ok to vote NO

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Melrose has not passed an override in 25 years. What does that matter. That is proof alone that there is no need and never was.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

The city is not currently in crisis mode is not needed .No on override April 2 2019

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Okay folks, Let’s get this straight: It’s NOT about the children, and the pro-override people using them as a pawn in this game is nauseating.

Let’s face facts: the real reason this override is “necessary” is that funds which used to be available for education, among other things, is being siphoned off to pay increasing pension and, more importantly, “ Other post-retirement benefits” (OPEB) - mostly retirees’ health care. This isn’t just Melrose’s problem but is endemic to every state and community. Posters above alluded to this when they mentioned 10 percent health care increases.

While I realize advocating for an override to pay for pension and retirement packages negotioned by future pensioners and retirees on both sides of the table isn’t “sexy” it remains the root cause of our financial issues. Until the administration grows some cahones aand is willing to state what concrete measures they are taking to deal with this issue, I see no way I can vote yes because they WILL be back for more.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

You need to get your facts straight. The increase in health care came in at 3%, not 10%. And while health care costs are a problem, by far the biggest problem with the cost is the amount being spent on health care for part time employees. Those jobs are handed out as patronage positions designed to gather political support.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Disgusting
What A Surprise!
Ippolito is another carpetbagger like Hammar. Before she got her law degree and became a real estate specialist (what a surprise!) her undergrad degree was given in English and Education. She taught in Brookline (what a surprise!) for 1 year, eleven months, and at some muckety-muck charter school for (guess what?) 1 year, eleven months (what a surprise!)

They live in Melrose but they are not Melrose. They blow in with the wind, spend all their time thinking they know better than everyone else, and then blow out again when it suits them, leaving a mess in their wake. Their only sense of loyalty is to themselves.
Disagree with her viewpoint if you want, but looking up someone’s past residences, jobs and other information is - frankly - disgusting. She had the conviction to post her views and also post her name (which you, unsurprisingly, have not) and you essentially doxx her? What the hell? We all know what you’re doing: trying to intimidate someone posting a viewpoint that is opposed to yours.

This goes for this post and also the other thread where I assume you used the same “sleuthing” skills. Be careful, ISP’s are legally required to disclose the identity of “anonymous” posters in response to a subpoena.
To "Disgusting": Did you go to the Rob-Van Camp of Ethics? Or Paymore Ethics 101? Be careful who you threaten with "being able to "obtain their IP Address in response to a subpoena". Your implied threat to those who post here has not gone unnoticed. If you are an attorney, you just violated the Mass Bar's Code of Conduct. If you are a public employee or a politician, you just violated the oath of office. Remember that one you took? To uphold the Constitution? Which among other things, considers suppression of freedom of speech and the press to be treasonous?

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Do I sound worried? But thanks for the reply, even though anyone stupid enough to post that isn't worth one second of consideration. It is what it is - just another Melrose dipwad.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

First Amendment
Disgusting
What A Surprise!
Ippolito is another carpetbagger like Hammar. Before she got her law degree and became a real estate specialist (what a surprise!) her undergrad degree was given in English and Education. She taught in Brookline (what a surprise!) for 1 year, eleven months, and at some muckety-muck charter school for (guess what?) 1 year, eleven months (what a surprise!)

They live in Melrose but they are not Melrose. They blow in with the wind, spend all their time thinking they know better than everyone else, and then blow out again when it suits them, leaving a mess in their wake. Their only sense of loyalty is to themselves.
Disagree with her viewpoint if you want, but looking up someone’s past residences, jobs and other information is - frankly - disgusting. She had the conviction to post her views and also post her name (which you, unsurprisingly, have not) and you essentially doxx her? What the hell? We all know what you’re doing: trying to intimidate someone posting a viewpoint that is opposed to yours.

This goes for this post and also the other thread where I assume you used the same “sleuthing” skills. Be careful, ISP’s are legally required to disclose the identity of “anonymous” posters in response to a subpoena.
To "Disgusting": Did you go to the Rob-Van Camp of Ethics? Or Paymore Ethics 101? Be careful who you threaten with "being able to "obtain their IP Address in response to a subpoena". Your implied threat to those who post here has not gone unnoticed. If you are an attorney, you just violated the Mass Bar's Code of Conduct. If you are a public employee or a politician, you just violated the oath of office. Remember that one you took? To uphold the Constitution? Which among other things, considers suppression of freedom of speech and the press to be treasonous?
First Amendment, what you've just written is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone on this message board is now dumber for having read to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Okay, “Nope” if you want to say it’s patronage causing health care cost issues, that’s just as bad - if not worse - and is ANOTHER reason to vote no.

Btw, error in my previous post” “OPEB” is “Other post-EMPLOYMENT benifits”, not “Other post-retirement benefits.” My bad.

Re: A neighbor’s response to “It’s OK to vote No”

Oh, I'll be voting "NO", don't worry about that. And I knew what you meant, since post-retirement equals dead. :)

A prior post outlined the number of part-time current and future retirees and the health care cost associated at today's rates. The number came in at more than - guess what? - $5,000,000.00 a year. You can't say "NO" loud enough or write it in big enough letters for me.

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