Hanson Select Board Grapples with Town Cuts After Town Meeting Vote
Board discusses staff reductions and service cuts, including shorter transfer station hours, to fund increased school assessment
HANSON, MA - June 25 - Hanson's Select Board grapples with the fallout from a recent special town meeting vote that approved a significant increase in the school budget, forcing cuts to town services and staff reductions.
The board, meeting on June 25, 2024, expressed deep concern about the long-term impact on town operations and the potential for further cuts in the future.
"I am heart sick at the position that we find ourself in, where people did not want to vote to pay additional taxes for the schools, but they wanted to cut town services to pay the school assessment," said Select Board Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett.
The approved budget increase will result in reduced hours at the town's transfer station and cuts to several departments, including the Board of Health and Conservation Commission.
FitzGerald-Kemmett emphasized the critical nature of these cuts, stating, "We don't have like hundreds of employees. You know, it's like 20 people, maybe even less, but 20 people and doing critical functions."
The board members expressed frustration with the school committee's approach to budgeting and the lack of transparency in their decision-making process.
Board Vice Chair Ann Rein said, "That school department needs to be reined in. It's out of control."
The board discussed the need for better communication with the school committee and more transparency in the budgeting process. They plan to request detailed information about administrative costs and contracts at the school district.
"I would very much like to have some Freedom of Information Act requests in to the district to ask about the current contracts," FitzGerald-Kemmett said.
The board also raised concerns about the potential for future overrides and the difficulty in finding areas to cut in an already lean town budget.
Board member Joseph Weeks said, "We're one bad break away from having something that we cannot fund in terms of capital projects, buying something new. There's only so many avenues we can pull from."
The board discussed the possibility of de-regionalizing the school district, particularly for grades K-8, as a potential long-term solution. However, they acknowledged that this would be a complex and costly process.
"I think it might be time, even though we know the study was already done, maybe it's time for us to brush it off again and make sure we've got the detail that we need," FitzGerald-Kemmett said.
The board also addressed concerns about communication with residents, acknowledging that many in the community feel uninformed about town issues and meetings.
A resident, Peter Orpanos, expressed frustration with the lack of information available to citizens. "The town doesn't do anything, in my opinion, to engage with people living in the town," he said.
Board members countered that they have made significant efforts to communicate through various channels, including social media, the town website, and local newspapers.
"We had articles in the Express. We have had signs all over town. We have had meeting after meeting," FitzGerald-Kemmett said.
The board discussed potential ways to improve communication, including expanding their use of email notifications and exploring new platforms to reach residents.
As the town grapples with these budget cuts, the Select Board is looking ahead to the possibility of an override vote next year. They emphasized the need for early and clear communication with residents about the town's financial situation and the potential consequences of future budget decisions.
"We can't continue to go budget after budget, year after year, May after May, trying to figure out how to put the pieces back together. Now we have to start conversations sooner," Weeks said.