Rockland Grapples with Budget Constraints as Health Costs Soar
Town explores land acquisition amid fiscal challenges
ROCKLAND - January 21 - Rockland officials are bracing for a challenging fiscal year as projected increases in health insurance and retirement assessment costs threaten to consume the entire Proposition 2 1⁄2 increase for the upcoming budget.
Town Administrator Douglas Lapp expressed significant concern about the impact on other budget priorities during Tuesday's Select Board meeting.
"Our whole Prop 2 1⁄2 allowed increase is taken up by ... the county is radically increasing our charges for paying back for funding retirement assessment. And we're at the mercy of the healthcare marketplace, like every other private and public ... employer is in the country," Lapp said.
The town is projecting $10.65 million in capital requests for the upcoming fiscal year, excluding water and sewer enterprise funds. Lapp presented a working document outlining potential strategies to address these needs, including the use of free cash and exploring alternative funding mechanisms for high-ticket items.
One proposal involves bundling large capital projects, such as HVAC upgrades for town buildings and schools, into a separate $3 million package. Lapp suggested this could potentially be funded through a one-year capital exclusion, which would raise taxes without incurring long-term debt.
"Maybe these large capital items could be bundled and handled separately," Lapp said, noting that some school-related projects might be eligible for Green Communities Act grant funding.
The town is also considering how to fund a new $2 million ladder truck for the fire department. Lapp floated the idea of including it in the upcoming fire station project, which is estimated at $26 million.
"Maybe we have two questions at town meeting, two articles at town meeting. One is $26 million fire station, another article is a $2 million ladder truck. But then at the ballot, just have one single question," Lapp suggested.
In other business, Lapp updated the board on ongoing efforts to acquire the Camp Alice Carleton property, currently owned by the town of Whitman but located in Rockland.
"I'm continuing to work with the town of Whitman on that," Lapp said. "We'll be too late for this upcoming May, not only because we missed the CPA deadline, but also there's just not enough time to get appraisals and all that sorted out."
The process involves multiple steps, including town meeting approvals in both Whitman and Rockland, as well as potential funding through the Community Preservation Act. Whitman is expected to vote on authorizing the sale at their May town meeting.
"Assuming that happens and then assuming the town of Rockland wants to acquire it ... we'd have to do appraisals, we'd have to negotiate a price, then we have to figure out how to pay for it," Lapp explained.
The earliest Rockland could vote on the acquisition would likely be at a special town meeting later this year or at the annual town meeting in May 2026.
In other news, Lapp reported that the town's IT department secured $50,000 in grants for cybersecurity improvements, while the fire department received a $19,000 safety equipment grant.
Lapp also addressed recent questions about the MBTA Communities law, following a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision upholding its constitutionality.
"We did the right thing and this court decision confirmed that the law was valid and enforceable," Lapp said, noting that Rockland's compliance ensures continued eligibility for various state grants.
As the meeting concluded, Select Board members urged residents to participate in the upcoming South Shore Regional Vocational Technical School Building Project vote on Jan. 25.
Have 2 articles. Taxpayers need to really discuss these new fire stations being built in every town.