LtE: Support for Question #10

Dear Fellow Reading Residents,

We ask you to join us in voting “Yes” on November 3rd for the $6.5M Proposition 2 ½ override, which appears as ballot question #10.

First, the Select Board acted in a judicious and restrained manner when it voted to put $6.5M on the ballot to maintain level services. If successful, the override is expected to cost the average homeowner around $62 a month. The Finance Committee recommended $7M (to cover a few years) or $9.8M (to cover 5 years).

The Select Board vote reflects an important lesson from the override vote in 2016, when a larger $7.5M amount failed. That was followed by a successful more conservative amount of $4.15M in 2018.

As co-chairs of Yes For Reading 2016, we saw firsthand the heartache and toll it took on our community after the failed override that year. It took additional time, effort and resources on the part of town staff, elected boards, and community volunteers to achieve a “Yes” in 2018.

It is noteworthy that recent successful override votes in our nearby peer communities facing similar funding challenges were much higher: $9.3M for Stoneham in 2025 and $13.5M for Melrose in 2025 (up from $5M in 2019).

Second, overrides are a part of the landscape in MA, and after stretching each dollar to make our previous override last eight years, it is time for another one in Reading. Reading is a community that is 90%+ residential, which means residents shoulder the responsibility of paying taxes to support the town infrastructure from which we all benefit.

Reading is not alone in this need for an override. The MA Department of Revenue website notes that 57 Massachusetts municipalities placed 74 override questions on the ballot in 2026 alone.

Finally, we are a caring, generous community that understands increased taxes are hard. We are blessed with organizations like Reading Cares and the Reading Food Pantry. Our town has outlined available tax relief programs on its website. And the generosity of individuals who volunteer their time for Reading and/or support various fundraisers is showcased time and time again.

Further demonstrating that care was residents’ vote for a new, safe senior center to support our growing senior population and the residents’ vote for the new Killam School that will be ADA compliant.

By voting Yes for this override, we continue to demonstrate care for our wonderful schools and top-notch town services.

Sincerely,
Kate Grant & Jen Hillery
2016 Yes for Reading Co-Chairs
2018 Yes for Reading Board
Reading Residents, Parents, and School/Town Volunteers