Select Board approves Proposition 2½ override ballot question for the Nov. 3 state election; town launches information webpage and schedules Aug. 6 webinar for residents
Reading, MA — On Tuesday, July 28, the Reading Select Board voted to place a $6.5 million operational override on the state election ballot, to be held on November 3, 2026.
The Select Board has voted to place one override question before the voters. If approved, the override would take effect for fiscal year 2028 (which begins on July 1, 2027).
The Town has created a webpage for information on the override vote, seen here: https://www.readingma.gov/1094/Proposition-2-Override-FY28.
Many informational opportunities will be provided this summer and fall for residents to ask questions and learn more about the override.
On Thursday, August 6, 2026, please join an Override Webinar (Virtual only) at 7 pm.
Zoom Registration Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GeRteC_7TWOgN3dCYwLzuw
Residents are invited to send questions to override@readingma.gov.
A Yes Vote Means
$6.5 Million Real Estate Tax Increase
- Maintain level services
- Preserves AAA Bond Rating and overall financial health
- Protects School progress and most recent investments that accelerated academic & social growth
- Sustains athletics & extracurricular activities
- Keeps full-day Kindergarten free
- Maximizing staffing efficiencies (cut 3 – 5 positions on the Town Side)
- Reduce reliance on free cash use
What will your override funds support?
Administrative Services:
- Increase Board/Committee funding to $25k
- Restore Administrative Services Director
Community Services:
- Increase EHS programming to $43k
- Increase EHS meals to $25k
- Hire Part-Time Therapeutic Rec Instructor
- Retain Part-Time Volunteer Coordinator
DPW:
- Cut weekly recycling to biweekly
- Retain Parks Improvements
- Retain Fence Improvements
- Retain Asst Town Engineer
- Retain Trash Bins in Parks & Fields
Facilities:
- Hire 2 new Maintenance staff and 2 custodians
Fire:
- Retain Ambulance and associated equipment Capital Purchase
- Retain Simulation Mannequin Capital Purchase
Health:
- Maintain Rodent Mitigation at $50k
Library:
- Maintain Sunday hours
Police:
- Maintain Overtime
- Restore Cruiser
- Maintain Crossing Guards
Schools:
- Restore $917k Community Priorites
- Increase budget by 5.25% to maintain level services
Technology:
- Restore Microsoft licenses
- Restore Wireless Devices
- Restore IT support for night meetings night meetings
A No Vote Means
No Override Tax increase
- Eliminate 60+ Full time equivalent (FTE) positions across Town and Schools
- Risk downgrading AAA Bond Rating
- Continued financial strain with higher interest rates for debt borrowing
- Significant cuts and service level impacts to all departments
- Risk of losing services that led to student academic success
- Risk of impacting student programming & services (free full-day Kindergarten, athletics, extracurricular activities)
- Increased reliance on free cash usage to augment budget
What cuts can residents expect?
Administrative Services:
- Cut Board/Committee funding to $20k
- Eliminate Administrative Services Director
Community Services:
- Cut EHS programming to $13k
- Cut EHS meals to $15k
- Cut Therapeutic Rec Instructor
- Eliminate Volunteer Coordinator
DPW:
- Cut weekly recycling to biweekly
- Cut Parks Improvements
- Cut Fence Improvements
- Eliminate Asst Town Engineer
- Remove Trash Bins from Parks & Fields
Facilities:
- Cut 1 new Maintenance staff and 1 custodian for new buildings
Fire:
- Cut Ambulance and associated equipment
- Cut Simulation Mannequin
Health:
- Cut Rodent Mitigation to $30k
Library:
- Cut Sunday hours (this jeopardizes certification)
Police:
- Cut overtime
- Cut 1 Cruiser
- Cut Crossing Guards
Schools:
- Cut $917k Community Priority
- Loss of 15 educators, 20 paraprofessionals and 7 nonunion positions
- Impacts on Athletics and Extracurricular Activities funding
- Loss of Full Day Kindergarten tuition
- Nonpersonnel reductions would lead to increased financial risk that could lead to more cuts in FY29.
- Staffing reductions and larger class sizes
Technology:
- Cut Microsoft licenses
- Cut Wireless Devices
- Cut IT support for night meetings
Outreach & Education
As the Town of Reading prepares for the Fiscal Year 2028 operational override (which begins July 1, 2027) town staff is committed to providing residents with accessible, transparent, and timely information about the challenges facing the community, the proposed solutions, and the potential impacts on Town and School services.
The goal of this effort is to support an informed community by sharing clear, factual, and objective information throughout the budget and override process. The Town will continue to follow all applicable guidance and requirements from the Department of Local Services (DLS), Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), and the Secretary of the Commonwealth to ensure communications remain focused on education and public information.
