MARBLEHEAD — Less than 24 hours after voters approved a $15 million Proposition 2½ override, Select Board Chair Dan Fox told residents the vote was not a “blank check.” He pledged that town officials would be held accountable for how the money is spent.

Speaking during Wednesday night’s Select Board meeting, Fox acknowledged the significance of the override and the responsibility that comes with managing the additional tax revenue.

“After last night’s override, I feel a responsibility for that. It is a lot of money,” Fox said. “I don’t view this as a blank check. I don’t think any of us do.”

Marblehead voters on Tuesday approved the highest of three competing override questions, authorizing an additional $15 million in tax revenue to fund municipal and school operations. 

The measure was designed to address the town’s structural budget deficit and restore services that officials had warned could face deep cuts without additional funding.

Fox said the board intends to closely monitor spending and ensure town officials follow through on commitments made to voters throughout the override campaign.

“I’d really like to be open and transparent about following what we said we would do,” Fox said. “I think we have a responsibility to continue to cut costs and find efficiencies, not just rely on taxpayer money.”

Vice Chair Moses Grader echoed those concerns, saying the override’s passage represented both an opportunity and an obligation to demonstrate fiscal responsibility.

“Yesterday was a victory,” Grader said. “The trust and confidence the town has placed in us is something we really have to live up to.”

Grader noted that while residents generally understand how the first $7.7 million of override funding will be used to restore previously proposed cuts, town leaders must do a better job explaining how the remaining funds will be spent and tracked.

“We have been given some big checks,” he said, citing approximately $6.5 million for municipal services, $8.5 million for schools, and $2.3 million for trash collection. “We should really try to develop accountability and consciously think about how we show that accountability.”

The board discussed establishing regular quarterly financial reviews, a commitment included in agreements surrounding the override process. Board members said the first review would likely occur shortly after the end of the first fiscal quarter in September.

Select Board member Erin Noonan said she wanted to ensure those meetings remain a priority and that the public receives regular updates.

“We are taking this very seriously,” Noonan said. “We’re taking the responsibility of the votes yesterday very seriously.”

Noonan also called for a communication strategy to keep residents informed about the town’s progress.

“How are we going to keep the community updated?” she asked. “This is such a big responsibility we have, and it’s also a great opportunity.”

Fox agreed, noting that officials already know where the first $4.3 million of override funding will be directed because it was outlined in Article 29 at Town Meeting. He said the challenge moving forward will be tracking spending and ensuring the town remains committed to the priorities presented to voters.

Several members also credited Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin for her role in helping the town navigate the budget crisis and present its financial case to residents. Board member Rosanna Ferrante praised Benjamin’s work with department heads, the Finance Committee, and the Select Board during the months-long override process.

The meeting marked the board’s first public discussion following Tuesday’s election, with members repeatedly emphasizing that approval of the override was only the beginning of the work ahead.

It marked Ferrante’s first meeting as a Select Board member. Fox was reelected by the board as chair and Grader as vice chair.

“The sooner we get on it, the better,” Fox said. “It’s about following up and making sure we’re tracking well for the future years and sticking to the decisions we said we’re going to do.”