Whitman Officials Weigh One-Year vs. Three-Year Override to Address Budget Shortfall

Town faces difficult choice as $2.4 million deficit looms; department heads warn of service cuts if override fails

WHITMAN - March 25 - Whitman officials are deliberating whether to pursue a one-year or three-year override to address a significant budget deficit, with department heads warning of potentially devastating cuts to town services if voters reject the measure.

The Select Board and Finance Committee met jointly last week to discuss options for closing a projected $2.4 million shortfall in the upcoming fiscal year.

Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter explains that a one-year override would address only the immediate deficit, while a three-year override of approximately $4.25 million would provide longer-term stability through fiscal year 2028.

"The $2.4 million is what we need for just this year. If we have just the one-year override, my fear is that next year we would need money as well," Carter says. "From a fiscally responsible way, I think, would be to go for the one override that covers us for three years."

A key point officials emphasize is that taxpayers would see the same initial impact regardless of which option is chosen. The first-year tax increase would be identical under either scenario.

"Whether it's a $4,250,000 or $2,400,000 [override], we're going to use out of the total capacity that we have enough to close the deficit in fiscal 26. So the impact in 26 would be the same for either," Carter notes.

The three-year option would create excess levy capacity that would roll into subsequent years, allowing the town to address projected deficits without returning to voters for additional overrides.

Select Board member Justin Evans supports the three-year approach, citing concerns about operational stability and staff retention.

"If there's a concern that we're going to be cutting the budget every year for the next three years, it makes it even more difficult [to recruit staff]," Evans says. "I would hate to go through this exercise. If the voters come out and say, yes, we want to continue funding services the way they are, turn around next year and cut those same services back down."

Select Board member Shawn Kain initially expressed concern about the political viability of the larger override amount.

"Do we ask for a relatively small amount of money with higher chances of receiving that money, knowing that we're going to be a little bit short and we're going to have to be tight, but that the override might pass, the higher degree that it might pass, or do we ask for more money, which is more in line with our projection, which will then fund us out for about three years, but it's a risk that it may not pass," Kain says.

However, after hearing from department heads in the meeting, Kain indicated he may support the three-year option.

If the override fails, Carter warns of significant cuts to town services. The general government side alone would need to cut over $1 million, potentially affecting police, fire, DPW, town hall staff, and the Council on Aging. She even mentioned the possibility of closing the library.

"Just to see what we had to do to devastate town departments to get there was difficult," Carter says.

Fire Chief Timothy Clancy emphasizes the impact on public safety if the override fails.

"If I was to lose [staff], we go back to staffing in the 1970s, and that's shameful," Clancy says. "I'll have to take an ambulance out of service, which has a magnitude of problems... You better hope you're the first emergency because I'm not 100% sure I'll be able to put anybody from Whitman Fire at your house if you have an emergency or a fire."

Police Chief Timothy Hanlon echoes these concerns, noting that when officers "don't have the right resources, that adds stress to an already stressful situation."

School officials also support the three-year approach. Superintendent Jeffrey Szymaniak notes that the school district's five-year plan through fiscal 2028 aligns with the three-year override timeline.

"Our preference... we've looked at that five-year plan through fiscal 28, and your three-year override covers us," Szymaniak says.

Finance Committee Chair Kathleen Ottina explains that the committee needs more time to discuss the options before making a recommendation.

"We need to talk, and that's our number one agenda item. It's probably going to be the only thing we talk about tonight is one year versus three years," Ottina says.

Ottina also projects Whitman-Hanson School cuts of 20-25 teachers based on FY25 budget estimates if the override did not pass.

The Select Board plans to make a final decision on the override approach at their April 7 meeting, when they must finalize the ballot question for voters.

Other items addressed at the meeting include:

- Approval to increase the number of vehicles for sale at 845 Temple Street from 40 to 70

- Approval of taxi and livery licenses for the coming year

- Declaration of April as Dollars for Scholars Month

- Updates on the town's 150th anniversary celebration events

- Adoption of a free cash policy allocating percentages to stabilization funds and addressing retirement liabilities annually at Town Meeting

Officials note that Whitman has sought overrides 15 times since the passage of Proposition 2½, with only two successful attempts: a $440,000 school override in 2013 and a $310,000 public safety override in 2018.

Disclosure: South Shore News founder Justin Evans is a current member of the Whitman Select Board.

Full meeting available via WHCA.