Stoneham Tri-Board Backs Fall Override Vote for Fiscal Year 2027

STONEHAM — June 10, 2025 — Stoneham's three municipal boards backed a fall override vote targeting fiscal year 2027, while leaving a proposed Override Study Committee unresolved. At the June 10 Tri-Board Meeting of the Select Board, School Committee, and Finance Advisory Board, Town Administrator Dennis Sheehan reported the Senate FY26 budget would deliver a net negative $107,000 to the town once a roughly $120,000 increase in charter school sending tuition was factored against higher local aid, describing the state's posture as "pretty level" with FY25. Select Board Chair Laurie Souza and member Rami Abou-Zeid argued that FY26 should be treated as closed, with the next override focused squarely on FY27 through FY29, while member Ryan O'Leary said understaffed fire and police departments made the case for at least understanding FY26 shortfalls in parallel. A draft charter for an Override Study Committee generated extended debate over whether six community members would add analytical value or primarily serve a communications function, with Finance Advisory Board member Rod Allen and School Committee member Melanie Sanborn each questioning whether a new panel was necessary given the data the boards already hold. Sheehan cited Melrose as pursuing a comparable November 2025 vote with three ballot questions ranging from $9.3 million to $13.5 million, and noted Lynnfield and Georgetown had recently passed multimillion-dollar overrides. The boards are scheduled to return June 24 for a final decision on the OSC's formation and scope.