“What I’ve Learned Knocking on Doors About Taxes”

Since launching my campaign for City Council, it’s been an incredibly rewarding journey. I’ve learned so much already — but nothing has been more meaningful than getting out into the community, knocking on doors, and having real, face-to-face conversations with neighbors. Sure, not everyone answers the door, and not everyone agrees with my positions — and that’s okay. What’s been encouraging is how many people are open, thoughtful, and willing to share their concerns about Melrose and life in general. These conversations are exactly what keep reminding me why I chose to run in the first place.

One topic that comes up again and again — especially among folks who are skeptical about the Override — is taxes. I often hear, “We already pay too much in taxes.” So I usually ask a simple follow-up: “Do you know what the current residential tax rate is in Melrose?” Most don’t. I will also ask, “Do you know how we compare to other nearby cities and towns?” Again, most are surprised to hear that Melrose actually has a lower tax rate than about 80% of municipalities in Massachusetts.

Here’s what I’ve come to realize: most people tend to think in terms of the total dollar amount they’re paying, not the actual tax rate — and that distinction matters.

To help illustrate this, I carry around a simple chart comparing Melrose to some of our neighbors:

Why does this matter?

Because when people see how heavily Melrose depends on residential property taxes, it often sparks an “Oh wow, I didn’t realize that” moment. Take Waltham, for example. Their tax rate is slightly lower than ours — but they generate 61% of their tax revenue from a strong commercial base, thanks to their corporate parks and business districts. In Melrose, 91% of our revenue comes from residents.

We simply don’t have large parcels of land left for commercial development or a shopping mall. So when costs rise — whether from inflation, contractual obligations, or general city maintenance — and we hit the limit of the state’s 2.5% cap, there aren’t many other options. Unless we want to cut services, we have to look at increasing property taxes to maintain and invest in the things that matter.

Now, do these conversations always change someone’s mind about the Override? Perhaps not. But they do offer something just as important: context. And with that context, it’s a lot harder to argue that the city is just trying to “tax us out.”