Editorial: Financial crisis leaves city lacking options

But both sides of tax override issue agree: Public Safety is a key priority

The city of Malden is in historic times, but not for the right reasons, altogether. The storm of revenues not matching expenditures — most of them in the category of escalating, uncontrollable costs — began some time ago. The financial crisis facing this community is very real, with consequences both immediate and far-reaching as well.

At this time, as the city prepares for a momentous special election centered on a Proposition 2 1/2 tax override, the debate and opinion-swapping that has swept the city is reaching a crescendo as the Tuesday, March 31, date approaches. Voters are being asked to vote “Yes” or “No” on two ballot questions proposing an increase in the property tax levy at two levels: $5.4 million or $8.2 million. If both questions pass by a majority vote, then the higher amount would prevail, while if one passes, that amount would move forward. If neither ballot question receives a majority of votes and both fail, then no property tax levy other than the established increase of 2.5% would be used for the next fiscal year FY27.

The third of four informational forums — planned and staffed by top city officials — held at the Ferryway School on Monday night was a microcosm of the mood of the city, albeit a small sample size of about 100 citizens, from a community with close to 70,000 residents. Before the forum, supporters of both “Yes” and “No” were prominent at the entrance, holding signs professing the side. Inside, throughout the forum, again the audience was evenly split in support and against the proposed tax override.

City officials have continued to explain that consequences facing the city if the override proposal fails at the ballot box on March 31 are stark. Over 60 full-time jobs would most likely be cut from the FY27 budget, ranging from police, firefighter and DPW positions to general government and the Malden Library. Other services which could be affected could be the elimination of School Resource police officers and cuts at the Malden Teen Enrichment Center.

No matter on which side of the issue residents stood on Monday, it was apparent where there was mutual agreement: Public safety in this community is a key priority. Nearly everyone that commented or offered an opinion expressed full support of maintaining at least existing levels of police and fire department staffing.

Mayor Gary Christenson stressed that the numbers of personnel in the police (116) and fire (108) departments have not changed (increased or decreased) since he first took office in 2012. Should the tax override request fail to pass on March 31, a minimum of 15 police officers and 15 firefighters could possibly face layoffs, along with at least 30 or more other employees. “There would be no other option,” the Mayor said.

Malden voters will make their choice on March 31.