HANSON — Nov. 4, 2026 — Whitman-Hanson Regional School District administrators told the regional School Committee and town officials from Whitman and Hanson on Wednesday that a very early draft of the fiscal 2028 budget shows 5.89% growth, a figure town officials said could mean assessment increases of about 10% for Whitman and Hanson. No budget or assessment was set.
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A preliminary number. Interim Business Manager Matt Wells said the 5.89% figure is super preliminary and still being scrubbed, and that the governor’s budget in January will shape the final number. He said the industry standard for a level-services school budget is about 4.5%, and that the district’s increases averaged 3.5% over the past four years, below that mark.
Interim Superintendent John Marcus said the 4.9% growth in salary lines is an average across roughly 505 staff, including contractual increases, not a raise for every employee. District administrators said they had to correct a health insurance line that was off by about $1.5 million, and cited out-of-district tuition, required new elementary reading curriculum and underfunded athletics as cost pressures. They said the current budget cut nine administrative positions after about 55 earlier cuts to mostly non-administrative staff, and that no teaching positions were cut this year.
Town concerns. Whitman Select Board member Shawn Kain asked what growth figure the towns should use in their own projections, noting that 5.89% of the total budget translates into larger assessment increases with the minimum “per pupil” state aid likely. Wells estimated that roughly 6% would mean about 10% for each town. District administrators said they were not prepared to give a final request.
Town participants pressed the district on the towns’ own limits. Hanson Select Board member Frank Milisi said the 55 earlier cuts were a direct result of a previous administration’s mismanagement and that a 10% assessment would leave towns no choice but to cut. Hanson Select Board Chair Laura FitzGerald-Kemmett said based on recent experiences, residents want specific purposes before supporting any override.
Participants also asked for clearer materials and enrollment figures at future sessions. School Committee Chair Ryan Tressel proposed meeting with two town officials and the area’s state legislators about state aid.
