South Shore News...letter: Razor-Thin Margins

South Shore Enters Another Budget Season with Fixed Costs Outpacing Revenue

Week of December 8-19, 2025

The South Shore is entering budget season with municipal leaders across the region delivering a unified message: the margins are razor-thin. From Abington’s audit crisis threatening free cash certification to Hanover confronting Plymouth County over pension costs, this week’s meetings revealed how rising fixed costs and Proposition 2½ constraints are forcing difficult choices even in communities that recently passed overrides. School districts dominate the fiscal conversation, with enrollment growth outpacing revenue increases and state aid stagnating while mandates multiply. Meanwhile, the transition away from MCAS graduation requirements is proving more complex than anticipated, with districts scrambling to meet December 31 deadlines while DESE provides guidance at the last minute.

The infrastructure needs highlighted this week—from Duxbury’s $1.6 million PFAS funding gap to Plymouth County’s emergency HVAC replacement at Hingham District Court—underscore how deferred maintenance and environmental compliance are colliding with constrained budgets. What’s particularly striking is how similar the challenges are across different community types: coastal towns like Hull and Scituate face the same fiscal pressures as inland communities like Whitman-Hanson and Halifax, suggesting structural budget problems that transcend local circumstances.

School Budget Crisis: Override Wary Towns Facing Cuts

The week’s most sobering news came from school committees across the region warning that “level funded” budgets—once considered the baseline for maintaining services—now mean significant reductions. Halifax Schools painted the starkest picture: level funding would force elimination of two faculty positions and balloon third-grade class sizes to 30 students, prompting Select Board Chair Jonathan Selig to pitch forming an Override Study Committee to “get ahead of” what he termed “tough financial times.”

Whitman-Hanson continued wrestling with its ongoing crisis, narrowing the current year’s deficit to $201,000 through strict hiring freezes, grant offsets, and hoped-for E&D transfers. But officials warned that FY27 looks worse: the state’s 12.5% increase in out-of-district special education tuition rates—what consultant Brian Hyde called “a real kick in the teeth”—combined with 250 additional students means the district faces educating more children with fewer teachers and the same money. Hyde was blunt: “I think we’re going to be looking at cuts next year.”

Silver Lake Regional presented a preliminary FY27 budget requiring a 3.73% increase to avoid $1.5 million in cuts. Committee members called this “a surprise in a good way” compared to initial fears of double-digit increases, though Superintendent Proulx detailed how level funding would eliminate seven teaching positions and surge class sizes from 25 to 32 students. The district is simultaneously grappling with a wastewater treatment plant crisis, awarding a $5,550 monthly contract to Weston & Sampson after the licensed operator went on medical leave.

Duxbury’s School Committee split 3-2 on approving a $46.5 million budget, with dissenting members Jen Weedon and Kathryn Marshall citing concerns about kindergarten tuition and “opaque” special education data. The contentious vote exposed friction over the district’s continued reliance on charging families for full-day kindergarten—nearly half the budget increase—while special education costs approach $9 million. Member Weedon requested internal data to contextualize public reports showing massive spikes in disability categories, though Director McNamara attributed apparent increases to state reporting errors.

Rockland approved $1.175 million in capital requests focused on “urgent” needs including HVAC replacements for the middle and high schools, which Superintendent Cron noted are already experiencing frequent mechanical failures despite opening just in 2011. The capital plan represents an $800,000 decrease from last year but highlights how even “new” buildings are entering mid-life maintenance phases requiring significant investment.

In a strategic move responding to Whitman-Hanson’s ongoing financial crisis, Hanson appointed school finance expert Warren MacCallum to fill a School Committee vacancy. MacCallum, currently Director of Finance for Norwell Schools, didn’t mince words: “I feel like we are in the middle of a crisis... I’m not convinced based upon the meetings I’ve attended that the problem has yet been resolved.” His goal is to “pull back the curtain” to understand exactly how the deficit occurred and rebuild trust. The appointment gives Hanson a representative who can independently audit the district’s numbers as budget season intensifies.

Audit Crisis & Infrastructure Emergencies

Abington joined the growing list of communities held hostage by accounting firm CBIZ’s failure to complete FY24 audits, preventing DOR certification of free cash reserves needed for level-funded budgets. Town Manager Lambiase confirmed 20 communities face similar delays, noting “their service is not very good.” The implications are severe: Police Chief Bonney warned level funding could force cutting the entire civilian staff—requiring uniformed officers to backfill legally-mandated positions like firearms licensing and evidence officers—potentially leaving only 10 officers for street patrol with “zero for the schools.” Fire Chief Glynn confirmed training programs would be cut to maintain the second ambulance in service. After four attempts to sell the vacant North and Center schools, the town received zero bids, with asbestos abatement costs the primary deterrent.

Plymouth County Commissioners authorized $850,000 in ARPA fund transfers to cover Brockton City Hall construction overruns and approved emergency spending of $331,000 for HVAC replacement at Hingham District Court, where the 50-year-old steam boiler is “past repair.” County Administrator Basler warned that boiler failure could close the court for “weeks and months” during winter. Commissioner Greg Hanley questioned long-term operational costs of switching to electric heat pumps versus natural gas, ultimately securing a compromise requiring concurrent utility cost analysis while authorizing immediate emergency work.

Duxbury faces a $1.6 million funding gap to complete design work for the town’s PFAS filtration plant, with officials warning this must be approved at March 2026 Town Meeting to meet the state’s April 2029 compliance deadline for removing forever chemicals from water supplies. Meanwhile, MassDOT definitively rejected funding wooden pilings for the Powder Point Bridge replacement, citing inability to meet the required 75-100 year lifespan without harsh chemicals like creosote that are now prohibited by environmental regulations. The state’s position effectively forces the town to accept a modern steel and concrete design to maintain state funding eligibility.

Hanover confronted Plymouth County Treasurer Thomas O’Brien over rising pension costs, with Select Board member Vanessa O’Connor arguing that the County Retirement Association’s aggressive 2031 funding timeline is exacerbating a “fiscal crisis” across multiple South Shore communities. While O’Brien touted the fund’s growth from $550 million in 2006 to $1.725 billion today, officials argued that 7.5% annual assessment increases are forcing cuts to services and personnel. O’Connor cited similar concerns from East Bridgewater, Rockland, Norwell, Whitman, and Middleborough, urging extension of the schedule to 2035 or 2040 to provide immediate budget relief. O’Brien agreed to analyze the cost impact during March/April 2026 valuations but warned against “kicking the can down the road.”

Post-MCAS Transition: State Guidance Gaps

Multiple school committees grappled with implementing new graduation requirements following Question 2’s elimination of MCAS as a diploma prerequisite, with widespread frustration over DESE’s timeline and clarity. Scituate approved Policy IKG mandating students pass relevant coursework with grades of 60 or higher, with Chair Nicole Brandolini successfully advocating for explicit clarity defining “passing” in policy language. The meeting also marked announcement of Special Education Director Dr. Michele Boebert’s retirement after six years, with the district planning to post the position immediately and begin interviews in February.

Cohasset officials expressed deep frustration with DESE’s approach, releasing draft guidance on December 1 despite demanding district policies by December 31. Superintendent Dr. Sarah Shannon stated bluntly: “They ask us to do things, then give us the guidance, and then have us come back. [It] doesn’t feel good and feels as though it undermines trust and legitimacy with the public.” Member Craig MacLellan criticized DESE as an “acting after-the-fact organization” issuing “half-baked” plans. The committee delayed its graduation policy vote until December 17 to allow additional review.

Hull took the most aggressive stance, unanimously voting to strip language requiring end-of-course assessments from Policy IKF despite knowing DESE may push back. Member Aleeza Hagerty expressed frustration that the state “allowed us the opportunity to vote out a high-stakes test and they keep trying to push one back on with a different name.” Superintendent Jette acknowledged the district is “taking a stand” and is “comfortable explaining the stand” to state officials, waiving the second reading to adopt the revised policy before the December 31 deadline.

Rockland and Whitman-Hanson both approved competency determination policies clarifying that while students must still sit for MCAS exams to meet state participation requirements, scores no longer determine diploma eligibility. High School Principal Dr. Christopher Jones explained graduation will hinge on successfully completing relevant coursework, effectively removing the high-stakes nature of the test for current upperclassmen.

Municipal Operations Under Pressure

Scituate departments delivered “level-funded” requests while battling surging complexity in development projects and state mandates. Select Board Chair Andrew Goodrich praised fiscal discipline but warned residents: “I would have thought that this year would have been the year we would have needed an operational override... how thin our margins are this year. I’m looking at Norwell and Hanover and Marshfield... all looking for overrides... We are at the line where we are.” Planning Board and Conservation officials reported that state mandates like the MBTA Communities Act and ADUs, combined with intricate coastal development projects, are consuming staff time. Building Commissioner Bob Vogel noted “the easy land in Scituate is gone,” meaning every new application pushes zoning and setback envelopes.

Norwell tensions flared when resident Kara Vautour presented data arguing the district’s budget woes stem from employment growth rather than inflation, noting that despite declining enrollment, FTE teachers have risen. School Committee Chair Kristin McEachern immediately pushed back, arguing Vautour’s data lacked context regarding student needs and state mandates. The exchange signals a difficult budget season ahead following the failed override, with demands for data-driven justification intensifying. The board also confronted a projected 14% spike in employee health insurance costs from carrier MIIA—what consultant Sue Shalhoub called “probably the most difficult year that I’ve ever addressed in my entire career.”

Hull explored municipal waste collection options, with Board of Health Director Rachel Gerold presenting scenarios ranging from using Cohasset’s transfer station ($300 annually plus bag fees) to creating a municipal system that could add up to $1 million annually to the operating budget. Only about 1,500-2,000 of Hull’s 3,500 single-family households currently use private curbside pickup at $48-70 monthly. Gerold warned a municipal transfer station would require “at the minimum, four to five staff members” and millions in startup costs. The Board of Health plans public meetings in early 2026 to gather resident input.

Plymouth’s Select Board heard intense public testimony at a standing-room-only “Town Hall on the Road” regarding ICE operations in North Plymouth, with dozens of residents describing a climate of fear following detentions near schools. Member Kevin Canty announced he is drafting a policy defining town engagement with federal immigration authorities, arguing “we cannot stop them but we do not need to help them.” The board committed to reviewing the policy at their first January meeting. Meanwhile, the contentious Pulte Homes 40B development hearing was continued to January 5, 2026, offering North Plymouth residents a brief reprieve.

Educational Excellence Amidst Budget Pressures

Weymouth High School and Chapman Middle School concluded three-year school improvement plan cycles demonstrating substantial progress in student belonging and reduced chronic absenteeism. Chapman’s comprehensive cell phone-free policy has transformed school culture, with Principal Dennis Jones noting “every kid is sitting at a table just glued to their phone” three years ago versus students now “just talking, just being kids” at breakfast. The school now collects only one or two phones daily. Weymouth High expanded mental health programming through private donations, bringing sports psychologist Dr. JJ from Brigham and Women’s and Mass General to work with student athletes. The school advanced to Part B of the Early College High School grant application, potentially partnering with Quincy College to create pathways for first-generation college students to earn 15 college credits by graduation.

Cohasset approved capital requests totaling approximately $1.175 million including bus leases and interactive whiteboard replacements, but member Corey Evans abstained from approving over $100,000 for additional security cameras, citing privacy concerns and lack of clear policy. The cameras request, representing the second phase of installations bringing total cost to $200,000 across two years, passed 4-0-1. Staff attendance data presented by Superintendent Shannon showed Cohasset rates higher than both state average and all neighboring districts.

Looking Ahead

The convergence of DESE’s December 31 deadline for graduation competency policies with early budget development for FY27 creates a compressed timeline for school committees. Halifax’s Override Study Committee formation signals that communities may pursue tax increases to bridge funding gaps, while Hanover’s adoption of strict spending caps and Scituate’s level-funded approach represent alternative strategies. The regional audit crisis affecting Abington and approximately 20 other communities could force state intervention if CBIZ continues delays. Plymouth County’s pension funding debate in March/April 2026 will determine whether multiple South Shore communities receive assessment relief or must find additional cuts to absorb 7.5% annual increases. Infrastructure projects like Duxbury’s PFAS plant and Powder Point Bridge require March 2026 Town Meeting approvals to meet state compliance deadlines, setting up a spring season where capital needs compete with operational budget pressures for limited tax levy capacity.