PLYMPTON — July 27, 2026 — The Plympton Board of Selectmen met in open session on Monday afternoon to address a fiscal year 2026 budget deficit of approximately $118,000 within the Police Department. Police Chief Matthew Ahl presented a detailed breakdown of the overage, citing steep increases in court appearances, unexpected medical leaves, rising fuel and cruiser expenses, and mandated officer training. While board members expressed frustration over receiving late-stage financial surprises, both sides agreed to implement regular monthly financial check-ins to improve communication and track departmental spending moving forward.
The Full Story
Following an executive session, the Board of Selectmen reconvened in open session to discuss pressing town administrative business, beginning with the Police Department’s year-end budget overage.
Police Chief Matthew Ahl addressed the board to explain how the department reached a $118,014 shortfall at the close of fiscal year 2026. Ahl pointed to a sharp increase in overall activity, noting that officers conducted nearly 1,400 more traffic stops than the previous fiscal year and recorded 19 arrests in a single month—a historic high for the town. The surge in arrests directly drove up court-related overtime costs, which ran more than $7,000 over budget, as well as shift extensions and holdovers, which accounted for $25,000.
Unforeseen personnel medical leaves also strained the department’s finances. An extended five-week absence following an officer’s surgery cost roughly $13,000 in backfill overtime. Additionally, rising fixed expenses, including higher fuel costs, cruiser maintenance, and utility bills, added thousands of dollars in unexpected costs across multiple budget lines.
Ahl emphasized that the department operates at a basic necessity level rather than a “wants” level. He noted that maintaining a minimum two-officer shift coverage remains essential for officer safety and public protection, resisting any return to single-officer shifts. Furthermore, state-mandated POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) requirements continue to add mandatory training hours for officers, increasing overtime expenditures.
“We already know most of the time we’re going into a budget July 1st... basically walking in upside down. And how do I make up that? It’s what keeps me up every single night.” — Police Chief Matthew Ahl
Select Board Chair Nathaniel Sides noted the board’s frustration with repeated year-end financial surprises, stressing the need for earlier detection and better coordination between the police department, the town administrator, and the Finance Committee. In response, Chief Ahl and Town Administrator Robert Fennessy agreed to establish a monthly review process to ensure transparent financial tracking.
