Hanover Select Board Approves $3.8 Million School Budget Increase

Library Funding Secured to Maintain Certification Despite Long-Term Concerns

HANOVER - January 27 and 30 - The Hanover Select Board voted after a series of meetings to increase the school budget allocation from $3.5 million to $3.8 million in the proposed override budget, following extensive debate on balancing school needs with overall town finances.

January 27 - During a recent meeting, board members and residents engaged in a heated debate over the town's fiscal priorities, with education and library services at the forefront of discussions.

Select Board member Greg Satterwhite proposed allocating an additional $300,000 to the school budget, citing the need for strategic investments in education. "There are some positions in that budget that I think strategically are good bang for the buck items for the school department," Satterwhite said.

The board ultimately agreed to allocate an additional $150,875 to the schools, utilizing excess levy capacity without increasing the overall override ask.

However, this compromise fell short of the $4.3 million requested by the school department to fully restore funding to fiscal year 2024 levels. Rachel Hughes, a School Committee member, pointed out that even with the proposed override, the schools would not recover from last year's $2.7 million cut.

"Our kids have way too many kids in class. They're not able to take the courses they've taken in the past," Hughes said.

The discussion took an unexpected turn when Satterwhite suggested potentially eliminating library funding from the base budget to prioritize public safety and education. This proposal sparked immediate controversy among board members and residents.

"I would never, ever support shutting down the library," said the board chair Vanessa O’Connor. "While it may be the lowest hanging fruit, essentially, after the transfer station, I think I'd candidly prefer more significant cuts to other departments before we continue to not prioritize the library."

Pimhatai Koslowsky, a library trustee, passionately defended the institution's value to the community. "46,700 visitors come through our door, averaging up to 880 people per week," Koslowsky said. "We have 580 in-person programs and 193 programs for children and teens, with attendance number above 4,000 total."

The board also considered a proposal from School Committee member Libby Corbo to implement a tiered override structure, allowing voters to choose between different funding levels. This suggestion aimed to provide an option for fully funding the schools while keeping the overall override amount within the board's established parameters.

"If you're not willing to consider funding the higher amount, expanding the override by even a compromise amount of $300,000, would the board consider structuring an override that allows voters, if they choose, to fund the higher amount?" Corbo asked.

The complexity of this proposal and its late introduction led the board to schedule an additional meeting later in the week to further discuss the option.

Town Manager Joe Colangelo emphasized the tight timeline for finalizing the budget. "I'd like to put the bow on this budget a little bit," Colangelo said, noting that the budget must be submitted by Feb. 3.

As the meeting concluded, board members expressed frustration with the ongoing budget challenges. John Tuzik remarked, "I can't believe that we are here or how we got here after September to now. It just amazes me that we still can't get to where we need to be."

January 30 - The Board landed on a $3.8 Million school increase in the override budget and including Library funding in the base budget. These decisions came during a special meeting called to finalize policy directives for Town Manager Joe Colangelo's budget submission due February 3.

Select Board Chair Vanessa O'Connor emphasized the board's efforts to respond to voter feedback after a previous override failed decisively last year.

"The cornerstones of my entire approach to the fiscal year 2026 budget have been that an override that doesn't respond to the messages voters sent at the polls will fail. And two, we need to pass an override," O'Connor said.

The increased school funding allocation aims to restore some positions and programs cut after the failed override. However, it falls short of the school committee's $4.3 million request.

Board member Greg Satterwhite expressed a preference for fully funding the schools' request but acknowledged the political realities.

"If I had my druthers, I would advocate for financing the full amount that the school wants for an override. I know that that's not going to happen, but that's what I would prefer," Satterwhite said.

The board directed Colangelo to keep the average property tax increase under $1,000 per household while accommodating the increased school funding.

This directive aims to make the override more palatable to voters, with O'Connor noting, "Yes, keeping the average override impact to voters at under $1,000 is somewhat arbitrary. There's no disagreeing with that. But it has been, and to my knowledge remains, the policy, the directive of this Select Board."

The decision to fund the library to certification levels sparked debate over fiscal responsibility and long-term planning.

Satterwhite argued against spending money on certification if budget constraints might force drastic changes to library services in the near future.

"I think that it is fiscally irresponsible in a base budget for us to fund something that isn't going to get us anything," he said.

O'Connor countered that maintaining certification preserves access to inter-library services and state funding, noting the library receives over $30,000 in state funding due to its certification status.

"If we do become not certified, we have to reapply for certification when we begin funding our library appropriately," O'Connor explained.

The meeting highlighted ongoing tensions between school advocates and those concerned about overall town finances.

Board member John Tuzik expressed frustration with what he perceived as a lack of consideration for the town's broader needs.

"We don't have the luxury on the select board of living in a bubble and taking a myopic view regarding the challenges that face our town as a whole," Tuzik said.

Public comments reflected diverse opinions on budget priorities. Rachel Hughes questioned the use of average home values in assessing tax impacts, suggesting a more detailed breakdown of property assessments could provide a clearer picture of the override's effects on different homeowners.

Libby Corbo advocated for a tiered override option to give voters more choice in funding levels, an idea that did not gain traction with the board.

The Select Board's decisions set the stage for Colangelo's budget submission Monday, with the ultimate test coming at the town meeting and ballot box in May.

O'Connor called for unity moving forward, urging "this board and the school committee, along with the grassroots community groups in town and any other resident that wants to get involved, unite going forward to get this unified override number passed in May, both at the town meeting and at the ballot."

Full meetings available via HCTV. January 27 and January 30.