“Crippling” Budget Forecast: Local Aid Increase Fails to Keep Pace with Rising Costs in Rockland
ROCKLAND – February 17, 2026 – In a sobering joint session with state legislators, the Rockland Select Board and school officials expressed deep alarm over a proposed 0.87% increase in state aid, a figure Town Administrator Doug Lapp described as “crippling” for the community. While the Governor’s budget offers a slight bump in raw dollars, officials argued that Rockland—which is more dependent on state support than its affluent neighbors—cannot survive on a sub-1% increase when faced with a 19.7% spike in health insurance costs and rising retirement assessments.
The Full Story
The meeting served as a stark reality check for Rockland’s fiscal future. Senator John Keenan and Representative David DeCoste provided a legislative update on the FY27 state budget, noting that while state revenues have seen some growth, the financial landscape remains “very, very tight” due to uncertainty in Washington and rising MassHealth costs [02:22:30]. Senator Keenan warned that federal shifts could result in sudden revenue losses, citing a recent $120 million email-based cut to state public health funding [02:31:47].
Town Administrator Doug Lapp presented a visual comparison showing that the town’s entire allowable tax increase, combined with state aid, is completely dwarfed by non-discretionary spending hikes [01:06:12]. “The math just doesn’t work,” Lapp stated, pointing to a $1.7 million increase in health insurance premiums alone [01:07:05].
Incoming School Superintendent Jane Hackett highlighted similar inequities in the Chapter 70 school funding formula [01:08:32]. Despite being a less affluent community, Rockland is slated for a lower percentage increase (1.56%) compared to neighbors like Hingham and Norwell [01:08:50]. Hackett urged the state to increase “circuit breaker” reimbursements for special education from 75% to 90%, arguing this would be a more equitable way to support districts facing high-cost, out-of-district placements [01:12:30].
Board Chair Michael O’Loughlin expressed profound discouragement, suggesting that Beacon Hill has become “tone-deaf” to the needs of suburban communities [01:36:50]. He also criticized the state’s decision to redirect cannabis revenue away from local municipalities, estimating that Rockland has lost over $10 million in potential revenue due to changes in Host Community Agreements (HCAs) [01:43:56].
“I’ve never been this discouraged coming out of a budget discussion... I don’t feel as though there’s any ability at the State House to get any of this stuff done or to even listen to what the real concerns are.” [01:41:54] — Michael O’Loughlin, Select Board Chair
Why It Matters
The current budget gap may force Rockland to make difficult decisions regarding public services, staffing, and school programming. With non-discretionary costs like health insurance and retirement outpacing revenue growth, the town’s ability to maintain its current level of service without significant state intervention or new local revenue streams is increasingly at risk.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To appoint Diane Holding to the Council on Aging.
Vote: Unanimous ([19:42])
Motion: To appoint Patricia Norton as an alternate to the Council on Aging.
Vote: Unanimous ([21:21])
Motion: To approve the meeting minutes from February 3, 2026.
Vote: Unanimous (with one recusal) ([17:55])
Public Comment
No formal public comments were made during the session, though the board received a “World Class” commendation from member Tiffanie Needham regarding their advocacy efforts [02:10:16].
What’s Next
Town Charter: The new Town Charter is currently on the Governor’s desk for signature; the town expects it to become law by late February [01:59:19].
MWRA Water Study: Rockland continues to study the feasibility of a $130 million expansion to bring MWRA water to the region, starting from Union Point [01:49:27, 01:51:57].
New Hire: Hillary Waite will begin as the town’s permanent Sewer Superintendent on March 30th [02:01:33].
Source Video: WRPS Rockland