Eastham Voters Pass All Five Tax Overrides, One Wins by Two Votes

*TL;DR All five tax overrides cleared Eastham’s ballot, one by a two‑vote margin, while Robert Bruns IV and Hope Ann Plavin secured the two open selectboard seats.*

Context Tuesday’s municipal election in Eastham saw every proposed tax override receive voter approval. The measures fund everything from school assessments to online permitting. The town also filled two vacant seats on its five‑member selectboard, the body that governs local affairs.

Key Facts - The $2.79 million override for educational assessments, health‑insurance premiums, transfer fees and pension contributions earned 839 votes in favor and 541 against. For a median‑valued home priced at $780,000, the measure adds $465 to the annual tax bill. - Four additional overrides passed. The online permitting upgrade, costing $45,000, survived by the narrowest margin—685 votes to 683—adding roughly $7 to property taxes. - Adding staff to the Council on Aging received 948 votes for and 435 against; expanding pre‑school tuition support saw the same 946‑435 split; staffing the Recreation Department passed 829‑545. - Voter turnout produced two new selectboard members: Robert Bruns IV captured 718 votes, while Hope Ann Plavin led with 1,017 votes. Challengers Brian Earley and Andrew Shearer received 542 and 271 votes respectively.

What It Means The unanimous passage of all five overrides signals strong community backing for expanded services despite modest tax increases. The $502 impact on a median home for the level‑service budget suggests residents accept higher spending to maintain town amenities. The razor‑thin win on online permitting highlights a split on modernizing municipal processes, though the measure’s approval will likely streamline building applications and reduce processing time.

Selectboard results introduce fresh leadership. Bruns, an incumbent, and newcomer Plavin will shape policy decisions, including how the newly approved funds are allocated. Their combined vote total of 1,735 indicates broad support, while the lower tallies for Earley and Shearer suggest a clear preference for the winning pair.

Looking ahead, the town will implement the approved overrides over the next fiscal year, with tax adjustments reflected in upcoming property assessments. Monitoring how the added staff and online permitting system affect service delivery will be key to evaluating the voters’ investment. The new selectboard’s actions on budget priorities will also determine whether Eastham can sustain its service levels without further tax hikes.