NAHANT — The proposed $1 million Proposition 2½ override failed by 24 votes at the town’s Special Election on Wednesday.
Town Clerk Diane Dunfee reported the final tally on Question 1 on the Special Election ballot, with 547 votes against the override and 523 votes in favor of the override, resulting in a 4.9% difference. Of the town’s 2,808 registered voters, 1,070 cast ballots, she said.
This means residents’ property taxes will continue to sit at the Proposition 2½ cap of 2.5% in comparison to if the override was passed, an 8.75% property tax on top of the current percentage, which would have totaled at 11.25% for residents in 2027.
This means there will not be an additional $604 charged annually for the average single-family home of $888,500.
The Fire Department will continue to have eight full-time firefighters, with their daily call response team being two full-time firefighters.
The public schools will not be able to hire a full-time English language arts and math specialist or support professional development within the school department, leaving educators wanting more training and maintaining the current curriculum.
Salaries for five full-time, non-union/non-contract employees remain unchanged, undermining a potentially stronger foundation for ensuring a safer, healthier, and more efficient community in Nahant.
The salaries for part-time employees at the library, Council on Aging, and Public Works will also remain unchanged.
The town’s stabilization fund will remain at $0, without the transfer of $56,000, which the override would have provided. There will also be no increase in the town’s overall debt payments, as the final payment for the $7.5 million, almost 20-year debt override for the Johnson School renovation was made in September 2025, according to Town Administrator Alison Nieto.
Fire Chief Austin Antrim expressed dissatisfaction with not being able to properly staff his department, but said it will not impact the current aid the department provides.
“It is a disappointing result, but the Nahant Fire Department will continue to provide the best service that we can to the town,” Antrim said. “I will continue to advocate for increased staffing because the need is legitimate and the risk our personnel is facing is increasing. We are currently undergoing a hiring process for our many open part-time firefighter positions, and we are still accepting applications.”
Board of Selectmen Chair Robert Tibbo expressed his disappointment in the override being voted down.
“The voters have spoken, and we will move forward as best possible,” Tibbo said. “Thank you to all who stood up and identify themselves as residents and officials concerned with maintaining the level of town services that we all expect and are entitled to. I’m sorry that what appeared so positive in a town meeting suddenly became so negative only days before the ballot vote.”
Voter James O’Connell shared that his reason for voting in favor of the override was tied to his involvement as a firefighter at the Nahant department.
“I just wanted to come out and support the extra staffing,” O’Connell said. “I think the town could use that.”
After residing in town for 77 years, voter Robin Destefano said the override could bring more positive changes to the community.
“I think passing the override is very important to the future of the town,” Destefano said.
Voter Edie Roland shared that people should take advantage of their civic virtue when it comes to any election.
“I can’t sit at home and not participate,” Roland said.
Daniel O’Connor, who has lived in Nahant for more than 70 years, shared his disapproval of the override because it takes more money out of the pockets of residents when other solutions can be found.
“If you’ve got a problem with finances, find some other revenue,” O’Connor said. “This town doesn’t have any industry… You leave everything alone, we’ll leave you alone.”
Voter Tom Price expressed approval of the override sharing, “It’s important for the town to have those extra firemen.”
The 1,070 people who turned out to vote on Wednesday denied the largest override since the $7.5 million debt exclusion override in FY07.
The last time an override was voted down in Nahant was when voters denied a $260,000 override for the Johnson School in 2011.
Question 2 on the ballot regarding extending the town’s charter posting of the Annual Town Meeting Warrant from 14 days to seven days, failed to pass with 514 votes in favor and 529 votes against, with 27 blank responses.
The results remain unofficial until certified by the town clerk.
