Duxbury Implements Budget Cuts After Override Rejection
Town Manager confirms layoffs and position reductions as officials navigate fiscal challenges
DUXBURY - March 31 - The town of Duxbury is moving forward with implementing its approved 5A budget following the rejection of a proposed override at the ballot box. The decision means the town faces reductions in force across multiple departments, Town Manager René Read confirmed during Monday's Selectboard meeting.
"As a result of the override not passing, the total number of positions reduced, and that will not be funded in FY26, remains unchanged at 13 on the town's side," Read said.
Read emphasized that while some positions will be eliminated through attrition such as retirements and resignations, the net result remains the same. The Fire Department will see its staffing level reduced from 28 to 26 firefighters, while the Police Department will drop from 35 to 33 officers as of July 1.
"Last week and this week, we have been working on our operations plan under the 5A budget, and we will be prepared for July 1st when it arrives," Read said. "There will be changes, and as the weeks go on, I'll be expanding upon that."
The town manager also addressed concerns about transparency during the budget process.
"I want to make very clear, especially to the people that I know are watching right now on social media, no one lied to anybody," Read said. "We told you that there would be reductions in force, and they have happened, and they are happening."
Selectboard members discussed the budget outcome and potential improvements to the process for future years. Board member Fernando Guitart suggested the Selectboard should take a more active role in the budget development.
"I think we need to build, or we need to take a look at the way we have been doing the budget historically and look at the point where the Selectboard interjects or plays a role," Guitart said. "I think it's really key is what I'm looking for is that Selectboard owns the budget."
Board member Amy MacNab expressed concerns about the approved 5A budget.
"I really felt that our priorities were not reflected in the 5A budget," MacNab said. "I was so concerned that at the end of the day, we would be left with that budget and have the residents in fear that we didn't have my priorities being public health and safety."
The board also discussed potentially moving the annual town meeting to May to allow more time for budget development and community engagement. Currently, Duxbury holds its annual town meeting earlier than many other communities.
"By moving it to, maybe May, that could be the possible suggestion, it does give the town more time to develop the budget," Guitart said. "It will give us more time to actually communicate and engage the community."
Several residents addressed the board during the meeting. Friend Weiler, Vice Chairman of the Finance Committee, suggested the town could consider using funds from its stabilization account to preserve some positions.
"We have a stabilization fund with over $8 million in it, a rainy day fund as we like to call it. Well, it's raining out," Weiler said. "I think those people deserve our consideration of doing that between now and the upcoming special town meeting in June."
However, Finance Committee member Betsy Sullivan noted that using stabilization funds for recurring costs goes against the town's fiscal guidelines.
"It has never been our practice to use the savings account to pay for reoccurring costs," Sullivan said. "Using stabilization funds to pay for operating or reoccurring costs or labor is a way to deplete your savings until it's gone."
Matt Gambino, a member of the School Committee, suggested the town needs a more rigorous review of its budget process.
"My recommendation would be that the Selectboard figures are a way to get itself and some other committees in this town together to do a rigorous postmortem of this budget season," Gambino said. "I think there's a lot of reactivity going on."
The Selectboard plans to develop goals for the upcoming year, with budget process improvements being a key focus. Other topics discussed at the meeting included:
* The board unanimously approved Conservation Restriction #49 on the former Pink Property, protecting 65 acres of land that includes drinking water resources and connects to 150 acres of existing open space.
* Members approved a $250,000 transfer from the Special Education Reserve Fund to address transportation-related special education costs.
* The board reaffirmed its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion proclamation, which commits to ensuring Duxbury is a safe and welcoming community.
* Health insurance rates for town employees will increase by 9% effective June 1, 2025, following a presentation showing Duxbury's self-insured model provides better value than other options.
* Town Manager Read reported that bags of feces have been thrown on Town Hall property on three separate occasions in the past two months, with police investigating the incidents.
The next Selectboard meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m.