Tax Cap Override

At a glance

What: In June 2026 the Board voted to override the tax cap for the fiscal year 2027 budget (a $448 million plan, according to one speaker). This page tracks how it was raised in the August to October 2026 minutes; the vote itself is not in these minutes.
Where it stands: No Board action on the cap in these meetings. The override is the main theme of public comment about taxes and revaluation.
Next: Tax rate set in November; first bills in December.

August 4: Bouchard said a vote on June 9 broke a promise made by members who campaigned on the cap and that only two kept faith throughout. Gravel called the budget reckless and cited a $28 million figure for Southside portable classrooms.
October 6: Roux said eleven members raised the cap and asked whether they scrutinized spending; Barton asked whether voting to remove the cap had the consent of the governed; Girard said the budget raised $20 million more in property taxes than last year and asked for the rate with and without it; Rodriguez criticized the override as the tax bills now arrive.
September 1: Gravel said aldermen who voted for the override "don't care about you" and that a member was already promising to override again next year.

Sapienza (September 1) said the speaker was the only alderman to vote no on the police contracts on June 30 because the process was rushed and the chief negotiator and Chief Chief Marr gave a starting pay of $71,300 while Manchester Police advertised $78,869.
Mayor Ruais (August 4) said 17 union contracts (eleven city, six school) expire in the next year and that surplus dollars would help hold the rate down.

Repeated public comment on the override, tied to the revaluation notices.

Public comment; Sapienza explained the no vote on police contracts.

Public comment on the June override vote; Mayor Ruais noted upcoming contract costs.