Find out why some of your neighbors are voting YES.
Reading Speaks
“As a member of the Finance Committee, I've watched Town and School staff present how they are saving money and stretching our tax dollars further
every year during the budget process. I also get to see which parts of the budget are increasing faster than our taxes can keep up with: It's health insurance, utilities, rubbish disposal, and other things that we simply don't have any choice about.
I support this override because I understand that this is now necessary in order to preserve the quality of schools and public services that Reading enjoys and deserves.” - Joe Carnahan, Finance Committee
We supported the 2018 override, which at the time was expected to last only 4-5 years. Eight years later, it is clear that we need another. An override will allow the town to keep up with the rising costs for the services and resources that keep our streets safe and clean and our schools strong.” - Liz Sullivan
“My family chose Reading because of the schools, the services the town provides, and the community that has been created here.
“I grew up in Reading and chose to move back and raise my family here.
My wife and I picked Reading because it offered a lot of what we valued, great schools and safe streets. Unfortunately, these things aren't free and the cost of providing them has been going up faster than revenues. I'm voting Yes for Reading to make sure our town stays a great place to live now and into the future.” - John Sullivan
We are part of the fabric of this community. Our customers are Reading’s parents, teachers, first responders, town employees, and neighbors. As a town meeting member, I’ve also seen the difficult financial reality facing our town. If the override doesn’t pass, our town’s safety, services, and schools are at risk. A strong local economy and a strong community go hand in hand. Maintaining the services that residents depend on matters to our families, our neighborhoods, and our local businesses. That’s why I’m voting YES on the Reading override. I’ve watched this town choose to invest in itself before and we are better for it. Let’s do it again!” – Joy Beaulieu
“As a salon owner in Reading, I see every day that small businesses don’t exist in isolation.
“Voting ‘Yes!’ preserves the Town’s services and staff as they stand now.
Data shows that home values in Town’s that pass overrides are higher compared to those that do not — supporting services and education pays off, making a community more desirable to live in.” - Christine Ford
“One of the first votes we cast in Reading, 34 years ago, was in support of an override to keep our schools, public safety, and town services staffed appropriately.
With our four children long graduated from the school system we continue to support the necessary overrides to maintain the educational and municipal services that keep our town a terrific place to live, raise a family, and grow old. Please join John and me in voting Yes for Reading this November.” - Mary Ellen O'Neill
“I'm voting Yes for the override because I love the town of Reading
and I believe we should continue our forward progress. I want our schools to continue to improve because they have the resources they need to enable all of our children to reach their fullest potential. I want to continue to feel safe because our law enforcement and emergency services are fully funded. And I want to send a message to those who work in our schools, police and fire departments and in our town offices that I think they're doing a good job and should feel secure and supported as they work on behalf of all of us. I know that everything is more expensive these days and we are all feeling it, but I want Reading to be the kind of town that invests in itself, to maintain our levels of service and to plan for future success.” - Colleen Noonan
“I have had a front row seat to the progress we’ve made in the Reading Public Schools over the last several years.
Our district is performing at a very high level, with outstanding results for MCAS performance, early literacy, college and vocational placements and so much more. We’ve done all of that with a funding level that trails many of our peer communities by making smart, long-term investments that allow us to keep more of our students here at home, bring in new revenue from other communities and attract significant grant funding from the state. If the override fails, we will lose much of the progress we’ve made. Class sizes will increase, students may have reduced access to athletics or the arts, and critical supports that help our students succeed will evaporate. I’m voting yes and encouraging everyone in Reading to do so in order to support our district’s continued progress and strong outcomes for our kids.” - Shawn Brandt, School Committee
“A 2 1/2 percent increase is not enough to keep up with inflation.
To maintain the services we need, we must be willing to pay for them. If we also pass the Community Preservation Act this November, our operating budget will last a bit longer before we need the next override.” - Martha Moore
“Town staff has worked in good faith over the past few years to keep expenses down
while inflation has outpaced revenue and state aid has been insufficient. I support this override because Reading’s schools and town services need the funding necessary to maintain level services.” - Carolyn
The police and fire departments have saved my family members’ lives with their prompt response times. If these lifesaving services do not get the funding they need and take longer to respond, if their departments are cut, we can lose lives by not getting our loved ones to the hospital in time.
My children are no longer in the school system, but it is still important to me, as that’s what drives the property values. If our school system declines without needed funding, our property values will decline, as well.
It is funny that as I own a criminal and family law firm in town, one may think I would not support the police department. That could not be further from the truth. We are extremely lucky to have a fine police department that does everything they can to protect the citizens of Reading. This is not a partisan issue. This is an issue that anyone who knows and loves anyone in this town should care about to keep them safe.
As someone who grew up in Reading, with one of my children, my mother, her two brothers & their wives and one of my father’s brothers still living here, it is essential for the police and fire departments to continue with their prompt response times to ensure their safety, as well as the safety of my friends & neighbors and everyone else in town. For those reasons, I urge you to vote YES on the override.” - Tina Ohlson
“The override is a matter of life and death. Literally.
“My kids have been in Reading Schools since 2018 and our experience has been top notch. People move to Reading for the education, the wonderful, supportive safe community. We don’t want to compromise this for us or our neighbors.” - Lindsey Monahan
“I want to ensure our schools and community programs are well funded and supported.” - Leigh A
“For our schools, our library, and our community.” - Jason Clarke