WHITMAN — July 28, 2026 — Facing an impending annual debt payment that could top $2 million, the Whitman Select Board discussed plans to place a debt exclusion question before voters in late January 2027 to cover the town’s share of the new South Shore Vocational Regional High School building project.
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During Tuesday evening’s meeting, the Select Board grappled with the severe budgetary impacts of funding Whitman’s portion of the South Shore Tech building project. Although district voters previously approved the construction of the school, Whitman residents turned down a debt exclusion question on a prior ballot.
Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter outlined the impending financial reality, noting that because the overall project is moving forward across the regional district, Whitman will be billed regardless. Depending on whether the regional school district structures the bonding through level debt service or level principal, Whitman’s annual assessment is projected to range from approximately $1.09 million to over $2.2 million starting in Fiscal Year 2028 or 2029. Level debt service would cost the average single-family homeowner (assessed at $516,263) roughly $267 per year.
Carter warned that if a debt exclusion is not passed by voters, the town will be forced to absorb the debt payment directly within its general operating budget under the Proposition 2½ levy limit. To free up over $1 million inside the general fund, the town would have to implement deep cuts across municipal and educational departments. Board members discussed potential emergency scenarios, including the impact of across-the-board 10% operational cuts to essential services, public safety, the public library, and the senior center.
“It’s going to severely impact our budget, our general fund, if we have to absorb the debt payment within the levy.” — Mary Beth Carter, Town Administrator
Following input from Town Clerk Dawn Varley, the board zeroed in on potential dates for a special election and special town meeting, pointing toward Saturday, January 30, 2027, as a tentative target to allow sufficient community outreach and budgeting preparation.
