Duxbury Selectboard Confronts $600,000 Structural Deficit for Fiscal Year 2027
Officials debate prioritizing public safety and schools while facing difficult budget decisions
DUXBURY - May 19 - Duxbury's Selectboard faces tough decisions as they begin planning for fiscal year 2027, with Finance Director Mary MacKinnon confirming a projected $600,000 structural deficit even after previous staffing reductions.
The board discussed budget priorities during their May 19 meeting, with several members emphasizing the need to restore positions eliminated in previous cuts, particularly in public safety departments.
"We have a structural deficit," said board member Fernando Guitart. "If we don't ask for another override, we have to find $1.8 million from somewhere else. The conversation is just as simple as that. What are we going to prioritize as a town?"
The discussion follows voters' rejection of a $5.8 million override earlier this year, forcing officials to consider what a balanced budget would look like without additional revenue.
Board member Michael McGee advocates for restoring positions eliminated in previous budget cuts, particularly in public safety departments.
"I think we heard from the ballots that people were uncomfortable with that large amount of money," McGee said. "I think we need to look at ways to at least get this town back on track with respect to reduction in force."
MacKinnon urged the board to establish clear priorities to guide budget decisions, noting that the town must first meet obligations for debt service and employee wages before funding other municipal services.
"As we start to face these severe fiscal constraints, we need to make a series of choices," MacKinnon said. "It's important that we are clear on what those priorities are."
The board plans to develop a budget strategy at their June 9 meeting, with members expected to create prioritized lists of town services and departments.
A key point of discussion centered on the school department, which represents approximately 60% of the town's budget. Board members debated how to approach budget discussions with school officials.
"We need to tell the schools how much money we've got. We cannot avoid that," Guitart said.
Vice Chair Amy MacNab expressed concern about the board's role in school budget decisions.
"I'm not sure how comfortable I am prioritizing what the schools [spend money on]," MacNab said. "They have a school committee that does that. That seems out of our bailiwick."
Chair Brian Glennon emphasized that while the board can suggest and ask, they cannot dictate how the school department allocates its funds.
"The dollars are all fungible, right? They come from the taxpayers of the town and they go back into the town, either on the school side, town side, whatever," Glennon said.
MacKinnon suggested the board consider whether to restore the dollar value of previous cuts to the school department rather than specific positions.
Board members also discussed the need for transparency and community engagement in the budget process.
"We need to share it with people. We need to engage the community to realize if we want to do a balanced budget, this will be the impact on services," Guitart said.
MacNab emphasized the importance of cooperation moving forward.
"We have some work to do, not just with the budget, but we have some work to do with the public," MacNab said. "Working together in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration, all of us up here are taxpayers. We're all feeling this in the very same ways that our resident friends and neighbors are as well."
The board plans to continue budget discussions at their June 9 meeting, where they will work to establish a budget policy and strategy for fiscal year 2027.
Other business addressed by the Selectboard:
* The board approved a climate resiliency resolution presented by the Coastal Resiliency Task Force, with only McGee voting against. The resolution commits the town to "strive to match Massachusetts' decarbonization roadmap" and support climate mobilization strategies.
* Town Manager René Read announced that 43 piping plover nests are currently on Duxbury Beach, with the first nests expected to hatch later this week. Sensitive wildlife areas will be marked with blue signs with white lettering.
* Read also announced a public meeting on June 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center regarding the Powder Point Bridge. Representatives from MassDOT will present information about the bridge project.
* The board approved a one-day wine and malt license for the South Shore Conservatory's Duxbury Music Festival recitals on June 20 and 27.
* The board approved a temporary bonus shellfish season for commercial harvesting of soft shell clams and quahog clams for the month of June.
* Town Hall will be closed on Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day. The Memorial Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Standish Cemetery.