Ashland Seeks $2.75 Million Override to Prevent Larger Future Tax Ask

ASHLAND — April 1, 2026 — Ashland officials are pushing a $2.75 million Proposition 2.5 override for public schools ahead of a May 6 Town Meeting and May 19 election. Town Manager Michael Herbert and Superintendent Jim Adams made the case at a March 26 public forum, with Herbert calling the budget gap a structural "math problem" driven by rising health insurance, pension, and regional costs. Adams noted the district is running on 2017 staffing levels despite rising enrollment, and warned that if voters reject the override this cycle, the town could face a $5 million request in a future year. For the average Ashland homeowner — with a property assessed at $737,000 — passage would mean roughly $420 more per year in property taxes.