Hanover Town Meeting Approves $78.4 Million Override Budget for FY2026
Budget Contingent on May 17 Override Vote; Hanover Puts MBTA Communities Act Decision on Hold
HANOVER - May 5 and 6- Hanover's annual town meeting approves a $78.4 million override budget for fiscal year 2026, contingent on voters passing a levy limit increase at the May 17 town election. The budget aims to maintain services while building excess levy capacity for future sustainability.
The Advisory Committee's recommended budget includes $750,000 in excess levy capacity, which Chair Emmanuel Dockter explains is crucial for the town's financial stability through 2032.
"If we increase the levy limit but then set a budget that taxes up to that new limit, we will be faced next year with the same core challenges we have with our base budget," Dockter tells town meeting attendees.
The override budget allows the School Department to fill 24 of the 36 positions lost last year, while the base budget approved in case the override fails would only allow for 12 positions to be restored.
Select Board Chair Vanessa O'Connor emphasizes the town's careful approach to financial management.
"Until last May, Hanover had only presented two operational override votes to residents, the most recent being in 1998. We do not bring another override request lightly, especially following last year's failed vote," O'Connor says.
The override budget includes $500,000 in excess levy capacity created by the Advisory Committee through cuts to the Town Manager's proposed department budgets, plus an additional $250,000 added by the Select Board to the override ballot question.
Town Manager Joe Colangelo stresses that sustainability requires ongoing effort from all departments.
"If the voters support this and at the ballot in two weeks, no one on this stage, no department head is just putting their feet up on the desk and saying, boy, smooth sailing from here on out," Colangelo says. "The override, if passed, in order to make it sustainable, will require active management."
Budget Director Jim Hoyes presents projections showing how the town can maintain financial stability through 2032, when Plymouth County retirement obligations will decrease significantly, reducing expenses by $4-6 million.
"We've been using free cash for the last three years covering deficits. We used $2.4 million in fiscal year 23, $1.8 million in fiscal year 24, and $1.8 million, again, in fiscal year 25," Hoyes explains. "This is not a new issue that we have budget deficits."
School Committee Chair Pete Miraglia expresses support for the override budget despite it not fully restoring previous staffing levels.
"While it does not fully restore the services and programming levels of the past, it enables the district to begin reinvesting in the core elements that Hanover students, staff, and families expect from the schools," Miraglia says.
School Committee member Libby Corbo proposes an amendment to increase school funding by $1.27 million using free cash and excess levy capacity, arguing that Hanover schools are underfunded compared to neighboring communities.
"Per pupil expenditure, this is the amount that Hanover spends to educate each student... For the fiscal year 24, we were the lowest of our neighbors in per pupil spending below state average," Corbo says.
The amendment fails after Advisory Committee members warn it would jeopardize the town's financial sustainability.
"This budget is not sustainable as proposed," Dockter says in response to the amendment. "Using up free cash, using any excess levy that would be created, makes this unsustainable."
The override budget, if approved by voters on May 17, would increase property taxes by $387 for the average home valued at $777,000, in addition to the $303 increase from the base budget.
Town meeting also approves the base budget of $76.9 million in case the override fails. This budget maintains level services across departments for the coming year but would likely require significant cuts in future years, potentially including closing the library and senior center.
Other notable votes during the meeting include:
- Approval of a $926,718 Transfer Station Enterprise Budget, the first since establishing it as an enterprise fund
- Approval of a $5.1 million Water Enterprise Budget
- Authorization to sell the former fire substation at 188 King Street
- Approval of $160,000 to purchase two police cruisers
- Approval of $65,000 for a DPW asphalt box to improve road repairs
- Naming of a traffic island at East Street and Route 53 as "Gardner Brothers Square" to honor six brothers who served in World War II
The override question will appear on the May 17 town election ballot, asking voters to approve an additional $3.76 million in property taxes for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025.
May 6 - Hanover's Town Meeting has unanimously voted to send the implementation of a multifamily overlay district, required by the MBTA Communities Act, back to the planning board for more research.
Planning Board Chair MaryAnn Brugnoli points to recent developments, including State Auditor Diana DiZoglio's finding that the MBTA Communities Act is an unfunded mandate for cities and towns.
"The legislature didn't set aside money for communities to cover the costs of building and maintaining these new apartments when they passed the MBTA Housing Act," Brugnoli explains.
The act requires certain towns to allow multifamily zoning by right. For Hanover, this means at least 750 new housing units.
Ann Roselle, a local parent and teacher, raises concerns: "Our teachers are already stretched thin, and now we're looking at zoning changes that will bring more families and students without any guaranteed support or infrastructure to handle the increase."
The Advisory Committee backs the motion to refer, citing questions about potential funding and ongoing legal challenges.
The Advisory Committee chair Emmanuel Dockter notes, "If we reject this article, there's worry the town might lose out on certain grants and potential funding."
In other key decisions, the town meeting:
- Gives the green light for $160,000 to buy two new police cruisers
- Sets aside $60,000 for new police firearms
- Approves $450,000 for Hanover Community Television
- Accepts $10,000 to preserve historical documents
- Okays $18,500 for trail improvements
- Authorizes $350,000 for a new dump truck and plow for Public Works
The meeting wraps up with a reminder about upcoming town elections on May 17 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Hanover High School, which includes a vote on raising the levy limit.
Full meetings available via HCTV. Special Town Meeting, Annual Night 1, and Annual Night 2.