Your Local News, Sports and Information Online. Scan & Subscribe! Vol. 35, No. 13 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday 617-387-2200 Friday, April 3, 2026 Malden voters say ‘NO’ to property tax override in historic special election Razor-thin margin: 51%-49% for ‘no’ decides against $5.4 million tax increase request; $8.4 million request fails, with 59% opposed By Steve Freker M alden voters said “No” to both Special Election ballot questions, which asked them to support or decline a Proposition 2 1/2 property tax override, on a historic day. Tuesday’s vote was the first-ever tax override requested by city officials in municipal history. A five-month process, which began with Mayor Gary Christenson formally requesting a $5.4 million override to bridge a structural budget deficit, came to a resounding halt Tuesday. In the latest in a series of extremely low turnouts at the polls — only 15 percent of the city’s total rolls of registered voters (5,747) — Malden voters voted down two options: a $5.4 million or $8.2 million override. The higher-numbered option would Representatives of “Keep Malden Affordable,” a group that has actively opposed the override ballot questions since their inception, were among the few sign holders for either side of the issue at the polls Tuesday. Here they appeared at the Beebe K-8 School polling place. (Advocate Photo) be implemented in the instance of both questions passing. However, with Tuesday’s vote, neither will now be put into effect. The $5.4 million option missed passage by just 124 votes, with 2,936 votes for “NO” and 2,812 votes for “YES,” failing 51%-49%. If it had passed, the tax increase to the average Malden homeowner would have been $353 annually, The $8.2 million option failed with 3,224 “NO” votes versus 2,523 “YES” votes, voted down by a 59%-43% margin. The second option was added to the Special Election ballot after the first of the year in January, when it was explained Malden had another deficit in net school spending, thus the larger request. Debate between citizens at ELECTION | SEE PAGE 8 Zonta Club Honors ‘Women Making a Difference’ at Special Event The Zonta Club of Malden honored several women and organizations who have made a difference in the community during their “Women Making a Difference” event last Thursday at Rosaria Restaurant in Saugus. Bread of Life (BOL) Executive Director Gabriella Snyder Stelmack (in center) accepted a humanitarian award from Zonta Club President Maria Luise (at right) with Event Chair Michelle Luong. Shown from left to right: BOL Board of Directors Treasurer Edwin Andrews, volunteer/ Zonta Club member Marilyn Andrews, BOL Board VP Mary Beth Leon, BOL Development Director Patty Kelly, volunteer Karen Lynch, BOL Board Member Annamaria Georgopoulos; in back: BOL Bookkeeper Cindy Robillard, BOL Executive Director Gabriella Sndyer Stelmack, BOL Board Member Liz Lombardozzi, Zonta Club President Maria Luise, volunteer Gail Rufo and Event Chair Michelle Luong. See inside for photo highlights. (Advocate photo by Tara Vocino)
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