South Shore News…letter: Checking Boilers Every Two Hours
Budget Crisis Meets Infrastructure Emergency Across South Shore
Week of January 12-14, 2026
The South Shore’s budget season has arrived with all the subtlety of this weekend’s blizzard. From Plymouth to Marshfield to Whitman-Hanson, government officials spent the week confronting a stark reality: even towns that passed overrides are facing multi-million dollar deficits, while those that haven’t are weighing whether to ask voters for more. Meanwhile, infrastructure emergencies are forcing immediate action—from Hingham’s boilers being checked every two hours to keep the high school heated, to East Bridgewater applying for EPA cleanup funds for a 20-year-old toxic site. The week’s coverage reveals a region where fiscal pressures and deferred maintenance have collided, leaving administrators scrambling to maintain services while keeping tax rates in check.
Several towns are also in the midst of leadership transitions, bringing fresh faces to manage these challenges. And beneath it all, the mechanics of local government continue: zoning updates to prepare for battery storage facilities and data centers, debates over when to hold Town Meeting, and school districts adjusting curricula and calendars.
Budget Crisis Deepens Across the Region
The fiscal squeeze that’s been building for years is now here. Multiple communities are staring at structural deficits that exceed their ability to patch with one-time fixes or minor cuts.
Marshfield is facing a $1.5 million school budget gap for FY27, part of a $2.46 million town-wide deficit. The school district’s $63.6 million budget request represents a 5.57% increase, driven primarily by contractual obligations and spiraling transportation and utility costs. Assistant Superintendent Tom Miller noted the district ranks 119th out of 149 similar districts in per-pupil spending, calling Marshfield “a tremendous bargain.” But that efficiency hasn’t insulated the district from the same fixed-cost pressures hammering communities across the region.
Plymouth Select Board rejected nearly all proposed budget cuts in a contentious 3-2 split vote, opting to fund schools and town departments at requested levels despite warnings about a “fiscal cliff.” The Board had directed the town manager and schools to prepare 1% cuts to preserve the town’s dwindling excess levy capacity, projected to drop to just $300,000. School Committee members sharply rebuked the request, with member Ashley Shaw calling it “a dog and pony show” for problems that “we have known about for a decade.” The majority restored funding to nearly every department, leaving the town with approximately $470,000 in excess capacity heading into FY27.
In contrast, Whitman-Hanson has clawed back from a $1.2 million deficit to project a razor-thin $26,000 surplus for the current year through aggressive spending freezes and holding back $554,000 in non-essential spending. Acting Superintendent John Marcus warned against returning to “overspending the credit card” mentality that created the original shortfall. The district is also grappling with declining enrollment—down 160 students since 2021—which creates a barrier to future Chapter 70 funding.
Halifax is preparing for what Interim Town Administrator Bob Fennessy called “a very fiscally conservative year”, with department heads under strict orders to identify expense reductions. The newly formed Override Study Committee held its first meeting January 12 and will meet twice monthly to evaluate whether a tax override is necessary. New Town Administrator Steven Solbo Jr. starts January 26 and will inherit this challenging environment.
The lone bright spot: Norwell Town Administrator Darleen Sullivan reported the FY27 municipal budget appears balanced without an override, though school funding remains a variable. Sullivan described herself as “cautiously optimistic” and noted departments “were not asking really for anything” beyond maintaining current operations.
Infrastructure Emergencies Force Immediate Action
Deferred maintenance is coming due across the South Shore, with several communities confronting failures that threaten basic services.
Hingham High School’s boilers are on “life support,” with custodians performing physical checks every two to three hours around the clock to ensure the 27-year-old systems continue functioning. Director of Facilities Matt Meehan showed photos of leaking steam and corroded valves, warning that a failure in the main firing tube “can be catastrophic.” The School Committee voted unanimously to request an additional $500,000 for the Extraordinary Maintenance Fund, bringing the total to $1 million. East Elementary is simultaneously battling water intrusion from failed Energy Recovery Units that caused mold concerns, prompting criticism from parents about delayed communication.
Hanover residents face a 35% water rate increase to fund $25-27 million in upgrades to remove PFAS “forever chemicals” from all three water treatment plants. Town Manager Joe Colangelo acknowledged the sticker shock but stated flatly: “Either we can do this willingly, or at some point... we will be doing this because we’re being penalized not to.” The new filtration systems will also cost an estimated $500,000 annually to operate, requiring roughly $2 million in additional water enterprise fund revenue.
East Bridgewater has applied for a $1.5 million EPA grant to clean up the former Precise Engineering site at 54 West Union Street—a collapsing structure contaminated with chlorinated VOCs, petroleum hydrocarbons, PCBs, and metals. The site sits in a Zone 2 drinking water resource area and has been vacant for over 20 years. Licensed Site Professional Tracey Costa described the building as “collapsing” with asbestos present, calling this a “last chance” to secure funding for remediation.
Kingston is exploring a creative solution to Silver Lake Regional’s infrastructure challenges, proposed by a school committee memeber. Selectman Carl Pike outlined a “debt-to-capital” proposal that would redirect $400,000 in freed-up debt service payments into a recurring capital reserve fund rather than lowering assessments. The goal is to build approximately $1.3 million annually across the three member towns to fund maintenance on a pay-as-you-go basis, avoiding a future override for the $60 million in identified building needs. Pike warned that failing to act now could result in Kingston facing $2.5 million annually in debt service if the district borrows for emergency repairs.
Leadership Transitions and Administrative Searches
Multiple communities are changing or searching for chief administrators this winter.
Marshfield Select Board launched an “outside the box” search for a permanent Town Administrator, breaking from tradition by empowering interim administrators Charlie Sumner and Peter Morin to select the five-member citizen screening committee rather than having the Select Board choose members. Vice Chair Steve Darcy argued this ensures an “objective set of eyes” without political influence. The search comes as the town grapples with what Chair Eric Kelley described as a “financial hole.” The board also voted to request an extension on the town’s pension funding schedule from Plymouth County Retirement Board, potentially saving $400,000-$500,000 annually.
Kingston welcomed new Town Administrator Scott Lambiase, who attended his first meeting having just started days earlier. Lambiase reported that FY27 budget work has begun with a directive for department heads to start with “level service” budgets. He’s prioritizing filling the Building Commissioner vacancy and securing an office trailer for the town’s new police clinician.
Halifax expects Steven Solbo Jr. to begin as Town Administrator on January 26, replacing six-month Interim Town Administrator Bob Fennessy during the critical budget season.
Rockland School Committee heard from new Director of Pupil Personnel Services Dr. Jennifer Curtis-Whipple, who presented her entry plan findings after conducting over 60 staff surveys and interviews. She described the district as a “strong ship” with high graduation rates for students with disabilities, but identified three areas for growth: Consistency, Capacity, and Collaboration. The district faces a “critical vacancy” for a school psychologist that’s been open since last spring.
School Budgets and Strategic Planning
Beyond the budget pressures, several districts are making longer-term planning decisions about curriculum and operations.
Pembroke received a first look at its 2026-2031 Strategic Plan, developed from over 1,000 survey responses. Superintendent Erin Obey emphasized this will be the “true north” for the district, informing everything from the Superintendent’s goals to individual School Improvement Plans. The district is also moving forward with adopting the FOSS (Full Option Science System) hands-on curriculum for grades K-5, shifting from video-based learning to physical investigation. PreK-6 Content Coordinator Melinda Soliwoda noted that “watching somebody do an experiment is not the same as doing it yourself.” The committee also announced tentative agreements with all collective bargaining units after nearly a year of negotiations.
Hull School Committee approved the 2026-27 calendar with a pre-Labor Day start date of September 2, 2026. Superintendent Michael Jette also announced plans to revitalize Hull’s international student program, aiming to host approximately five students next year. The district is actively seeking host families and will partner with an agency to handle vetting and visas. The high school’s PHI (Project Humanitarian International) group will serve as ambassadors.
Plympton School Committee learned of a “triple-sided sword” facing town finances: a federal “recoupment” requiring the town to pay back previously claimed Medicaid funds for school-based services, plus a permanent decrease in future reimbursements due to changes in Affordable Care Act subsidies and claiming parameters effective January 1, 2026. Director of Finance Sarah Hickey noted these funds—the Commonwealth’s fourth-largest revenue source—typically flow directly to the Town of Plympton, meaning reductions will directly impact “free cash” and budget capacity. The committee is building an FY27 budget targeting a 2.5% increase.
Capital Projects and Infrastructure Investments
Beyond emergencies, several communities are planning major capital investments.
Hingham Select Board voted unanimously to place Article P on the 2026 warrant, officially advancing the proposal for a new Center for Active Living (senior center) at Bare Cove Park Drive. Chair William Ramsey, initially “adamant” the center should remain at Town Hall, explained he was convinced by parking constraints. He stated firmly: “You have to get this project under 30 [million] or you’re not going to have my support for it.” Proponents framed the investment as preventing costly emergency services and health crises for an aging population, while critics questioned whether operating costs are fully understood.
Duxbury voters will decide whether to move Town Meeting from March to the second Monday in May, with the Selectboard voting 3-1 to place the question on the warrant. Selectboard member Fernando Guitart argued that May timing provides better alignment with state financial calendars and improves budget quality with certified “free cash” numbers. Opponent Michael McGee expressed concern that a weeknight May meeting would disenfranchise working parents and families with children in spring sports. The board also unveiled a $2 million cemetery expansion plan, fully funded through cemetery lot sales rather than tax dollars.
Zoning, Energy, and Economic Development
Towns are preparing for future development pressures through proactive zoning updates.
Hanson moved to “future-proof” the town against large-scale developments by advancing Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) bylaw amendments to align with new state regulations. Town Planner Tony De Frias also flagged “data farms”—massive server warehouses consuming enormous electricity and water—as a potential looming issue. His department is researching regulations to require water recycling and renewable energy offsets for any future data centers. The board approved replacing defunct EV charging stations at Town Hall using state grant funding.
Plympton secured a better energy contract after being excluded from Silver Lake Regional School District’s collective agreement. Town Administrator Elizabeth Dennehy reported the independent contract with Sprague Energy yields better rates because Plympton’s buildings—equipped with solar panels—are no longer grouped with less efficient structures from other communities. “It kind of worked out great that Silver Lake did drop us,” Dennehy noted.