Your Local News, Sports and Information Online. Scan & Subscribe! Vol. 35, No. 12 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday Malden voters go the polls Tuesday, March 31 in Special Election to decide Proposition 2 1/2 override proposal By Steve Freker M alden voters will go to the polls on Tuesday, March 31 to decide whether property taxes will be raised or not in conjunction with a proposed Proposition 2 1/2 override. It is a historic election, since this is the first time a Proposition 2 1/2 override question has been put before the voters in the city of Malden. Malden Mayor Gary Christenson requested and received from the Malden City Council authorization to place two ballot questions before voters in a Special Election in each of the city’s eight wards. Voters will be asked to vote “Yes” or “No” on two ballot questions, one seeking a $5.4 million increase this year and the second seeking an $8.4 million increase. Within the past three months, overrides have been voted for passage in the nearby communities of Melrose ($14.8 million) schools’ last day is now Tuesday, June 23. Malden Proposition 2½ Override Election Information The following information is Malden will hold a Special Election on Tuesday, March 31, where voters will decide “Yes” or “No” on two Proposition 2 1/2 ballot questions seeking property tax increases. and Stoneham ($9.7 million). On March 31, all polls in all wards will be open for voting for the customary times of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. All of the Malden K-8 Schools — Beebe, Ferryway, Forestdale, Linden STEAM Academy and Salemwood — will close on Special Election Day, since voting takes place in most of those schools. An extra day of school has been added to the end of the school year as a result, and those available on the city of Malden website: www.cityofmalden.org On March 31, 2026, Malden voters will be asked to consider two separate Proposition 2½ override questions, Question 1A and Question 1B. These questions are designed to provide additional funding to help stabilize the City’s budget and support essential city services. BALLOT LANGUAGE Questions 1A and 1B are separate questions. You may vote for or against each question independently. Each question requires a majority of those voting on that question to pass. If ELECTION | SEE PAGE 5 Mayor Gary Christenson at the podium addressing the audience at the 2026 State of the City Address delivered on March 18, at the Malden Senior Center/Teen Enrichment Center. (All Photos Courtesy/City of Malden/Paul Hammersley) Special to The Advocate M alden is a strong, vibrant and diverse community that has made great strides in BLANK CHECKS. TAX OVERRIDE. MALDEN HAS $22 MILLION AVAILABLE IN CASH RESERVES. THERE’S NO REASON TO RAISE YOUR TAXES. WWW.KEEPMALDENAFFORDABLE.COM a number of ways and in many parts of the city this past year. Mayor Gary Christenson told this MAYOR | SEE PAGE 8 617-387-2200 Friday, March 27, 2026 Mayor Christenson touts Malden’s resilience despite challenges in his State of the City Address Mayor joined by cadre of city officials in detailing municipal achievements, infrastructure and other improvements in Malden over the past year WHAT A TAX OVERRIDE MEANS FOR YOU: INCREASED TAXES FOREVER LANDLORDS PASS INCREASES TO RENTERS SENIORS BEING PRICED OUT NO LONG TERM SOLUTIONS NO CLEAR PLAN V TE ON QUESTIONS 1A & 1B
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