MARBLEHEAD — Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer used the fiscal year 2026 State of the Town presentation to focus on Marblehead’s current financial challenges and some potential solutions
One current financial challenge he shared was increasing new growth revenues. To assist in creating new growth revenues, Kezer said certain home improvements — like kitchen renovations, expansions, or pool installations — will qualify homeowners for increased property taxes. This is due to the increased property value that these home improvements will create.
Other challenges include building reserves to meet policy and bond agency goals, reducing reliance on free cash for the operating budget and managing wage increases and increases in service contracts.
Kezer said the town’s priorities moving forward will address those challenges, such as addressing the ongoing bargaining agreements with police and municipal employees and the expiring trash contract, which will impact the fiscal year 2027 budget.
The presentation ended on a high note with an acknowledgment of Marblehead’s recent successes. It hired its first community development and planning director, was awarded the Government Finance Officers Association’s Budget Award again and will be switching to a Munis financial system, which will solve many internal issues.
