Merrimac Select Board Welcomes Community to Attend Town Meeting Public Forums

MERRIMAC – Merrimac residents are invited to attend two public forums to learn more about Town Meeting warrant articles, as well as Proposition 2 ½ override and debt exclusion questions that will be posed to voters in the coming weeks.

The forums are scheduled for Tuesday, April 15, and Wednesday, April 23, both at 6 p.m. in Sargent Auditorium in Town Hall. The Select Board is hosting these forums so that voters may cast an informed vote at the April 28 Town Meeting and the May 5 Town Election. Select Board members and department heads will share information about their requisitions. Questions from the community are highly encouraged.

The town is proposing three special funding items:

• The Police Department is requesting a Proposition 2 ½ override of $141,000 for one additional officer and associated costs. This will appear as Article 1 on the warrant and Question 1 on the ballot.
• The Fire Department is requesting a Proposition 2 ½ override of $484,000 for four additional firefighters and associated costs. This will appear as Article 2 on the warrant and Question 2 on the ballot.
• The Town is requesting a debt exclusion of $5 million for roadway repair and reconstruction. This will appear as Article 3 on the warrant and Question 3 on the ballot.

An override is a permanent increase to the tax base. A debt exclusion is a temporary increase to pay for the principal and interest on bonds the Town will seek to pay for the project.

The overrides require majority approval in both the Town Meeting and in the election. The debt exclusion requires a two-thirds majority at Town Meeting and majority approval in the election.

Important Dates

Town Clerk Gwen Lay Sabbagh shares the following important dates for the 2025 Town Election cycle:

• Candidates Night: Tuesday, April 15, 7 p.m., Town Hall (following the informational forum)
• Last day to register to vote at Town Meeting and in the Town Election: Friday, April 18
• Early voting at Town Hall: Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Monday, April 28 to Friday, May 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.