South Shore News...letter: Energy Shocks

$7 Monthly Electric Hikes Hit Halifax, Pembroke After ISO Storm Failure

SOUTH SHORE WEEKLY ROUNDUP

The second week of February brought budget season into sharp focus across the South Shore, revealing a troubling pattern: even a few good breaks doesn’t solve the underlying math. From Cohasset’s potential loss of 15 staff positions to Halifax residents paying $7 more monthly for electricity due to ISO New England’s winter storm miscalculations, municipal leaders are navigating fiscal pressures that transcend local political dynamics.

The Override Paradox: When Voter Support Isn’t Enough

Cohasset’s dual budget presentations (here and here) exposed the “perfect storm” of municipal finance. Despite an 8.82% school budget request trimmed from an initial 11.88% need, the district faces a $1.3 million gap that will eliminate 10-15 positions. Superintendent Shannon emphasized the bind: with 80% of costs tied to salaries and uncontrollable utility spikes consuming budgets, “every time our utility costs go up, I have to reduce a staff member.” The Select Board is now eyeing a multi-year override for FY28. Similarly, Rockland warned of another “tight budget year” despite recent financial support, while Norwell projects its Circuit Breaker special education fund will hit just $4,710 by year-end—a $1.5 million deficit that threatens both current services and future solvency.

Infrastructure Crises: Capital Needs Colliding with Operating Budgets

Duxbury moved forward with a $1.75 million MSBA feasibility study for Alden School, despite resident concerns about the “entry fee” signaling a future $160-180 million construction ask. The town simultaneously approved $3 million in emergency capital spending, including $435,000 for fire station HVAC repairs on a building barely a decade old—a failure attributed to deferred maintenance. Plympton achieved “net zero” budget balance by absorbing $93,000 in new state aid, only to see it consumed by $84,000 in unexpected vocational tuition costs. But the real crisis looms ahead: a $3 million roof replacement and aging HVAC units costing $110,000 each, prompting calls for a professional assessment and eventual debt exclusion.

Kingston took a different approach, voting unanimously to support redirecting expiring Silver Lake Regional debt payments into a dedicated stabilization fund. Starting at $700,000 annually and rising to $1.3 million, this “net-neutral” strategy aims to address $50+ million in deferred maintenance without sudden tax spikes. Meanwhile, Hull established a building committee for a $50 million public safety complex, with officials calling current police and fire stations “beyond substandard” and citing health risks including mold and high cancer rates among firefighters.

Accountability & Governance Flashpoints

Hanson’s Select Board voted unanimously to request an Inspector General audit of Whitman-Hanson Regional Schools, citing a “fiduciary crisis” and years of alleged misinformation. Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett declared she couldn’t tell taxpayers “how their tax dollars were spent,” while resident Joe Campbell warned the district ignored early financial warnings, leading to November layoffs and projected FY27 cuts. The board’s call for state intervention—rather than internal reviews—signals profound trust breakdown.

Marshfield raised its Town Administrator salary cap to $225,000 (vote: 2-1), with Vice Chair Darcy arguing that competitive compensation prevents costly leadership mistakes. Chair Kelley dissented, citing fiscal constraints and “out of control” regional salary escalation. The same meeting saw heated resident opposition to wireless infrastructure at Bluefish Cove, with concerns about lightning strikes and property values. East Bridgewater shortened Town Hall Monday hours from 8 PM to 7 PM under a new union agreement, compensated by reduced lunch breaks—a modernization reflecting minimal late-evening foot traffic.

Energy Costs: Storm-Driven Rate Shocks

Both Halifax and Pembroke approved electricity rate increases driven by ISO New England’s ancillary service charges during January’s blizzard. Colonial Power explained that two storm days exceeded two years’ projected costs due to a “design flaw.” Halifax residents face a roughly $7 monthly increase (vote: 2-1), with Selectman Pratt criticizing the “broken equation” forcing taxpayers to absorb pricing model failures. Pembroke’s rate jumped from 13.9 to 15.187 cents per kWh, though Town Manager Chenard delivered good news: no municipal operating override needed for FY27, bucking regional trends.

Hanover’s FY27 budget presentation revealed a different utility challenge: $27.5 million in PFAS remediation across three water treatment plants. While maintaining a 4.35% property tax increase through strategic use of excess levy capacity, officials warned water rates could rise 33-35% over four years to fund clean water mandates.

Special Education & Transportation: Systemic Pressures

Scituate approved a $55 million budget amid public testimony from substitute teacher Richard Aaron, who noted four years without pay increases. The district pays daily substitutes $110, a rate administrators acknowledged hasn’t been adjusted “in several years.” Plympton Chair Fraser criticized school transportation as a “monopoly,” highlighting House Bill 4066 aimed at addressing “predatory pricing.” The district exercised a Year 7 contract option limiting increases to 5%, described as a “fiscal no-brainer” while neighbors face double-digit hikes.

Legislative Updates & State Relations

Plymouth’s delegation delivered updates on $1 million in secured earmarks, downtown revitalization efforts including a potential State Pier ferry to Boston, and frustrations with Chapter 40B. Chair Golden noted the law “pits residents against their elected representatives” when state overrides local zoning. Senator Fernandes acknowledged 40B is “a bad law” but noted difficulty passing reforms during the housing crunch, suggesting Plymouth aim for the 10% affordable threshold to gain leverage.

Bright Spots

Weymouth’s Seach Elementary received national recognition as the 2026 “Safe and Supportive Trauma Sensitive School” from Lesley University’s Institute for Trauma Sensitivity. The district also secured a $25,000 planning grant with Quincy College for dual enrollment credit courses. Hull approved an Innovation Career Pathway in business and finance, expanding boat building programs with the Lifesaving Museum and introducing financial literacy coursework. Hanover set an August 31 school start for 2026-27 while celebrating DECA membership tripling to 82 students.