Keep Peabody Affordable

05/29/2026

The best news you’ll hear today: the municipal empowerment act has been shelved. This piece of legislation would have allowed local elected officials to raise taxes and fees unilaterally.

The fights not over, but were headed in the right direction

05/28/2026

Water and Trash fees will be discussed this coming Tuesday June 2nd at 6pm at the Wiggin auditorium and public participation will be allowed! Please come and speak if you can…

The Finance Committee will meet Tuesday, June 2nd, at 6PM. The establishment of a trash fee and water/sewer rates are on the agenda.

While this is not a public hearing, the chair has the discretion to allow public comment. As the Finance Committee Chair, public participation will be available in person and remotely via Zoom.

https://www.peabody-ma.gov/meetings/Finance-Committee-EPacket-06-02-26.pdf

05/27/2026

Here is a recording of the entire Special Meeting of the Beverly City Council addressing trash fee increases. Instead of quadrupling the fee, they voted to triple it. Watch for yourself and let this be a cautionary tale.

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05/27/2026

Patch recap regarding Beverly trash fee increase

The increase from $100 to $300 annually for most households is $125 less than Mayor Cahill's proposal to fully cover trash removal costs.

05/27/2026

Last night Beverly City Government admitted that cutting the trash fee would result in cuts to police and fire….. hmmmm

05/19/2026

Northridge, MA is voting on an override today! Let’s send them good vibes!!

05/07/2026

Tonight the Mayor proposed a $200 per household trash fee (per unit), annually. A couple of things to keep in mind:
- this fee is indefinite
- it is not tax deductible

A lot of cities are doing it because it is a way to circumvent the due process required by an override or debt exclusion vote that would go on a ballot.

Thoughts?

05/06/2026

Salem passed the override pretty handily yesterday unfortunately.

The good news is that Councilor-at-Large Jaclyn Corriveau, Rochelle Agneta and Russ Donovan are taking official action that they did not take. We have filed a Ballot Committee with the City in OFFICIAL OPPOSITION to any override votes. We are ready to use on the record resources that are available to use and are ready to raise money should the question move forward at any time. We will keep you posted.

05/04/2026

Re Salem:
Additionally, the wording is confusing. Salem is voting on a debt exclusion. A debt exclusion is a separate, temporary line item on your tax bill for a specific purpose. In this case 30 years and for a new high school. A proposition 2.5 override is *permanent* until another vote is taken to reverse the increase in the levy capacity, AKA an under-ride and the funds are not earmarked.

05/04/2026

Tomorrow is a decisive moment for our neighbors in Salem- they are deciding whether or not to do a debt exclusion override.

Pay attention Peabody, the mayor has clearly stated we may be doing the same soon.