Whitman Town Meeting Approves $2 Million Override to Fund Budget
Residents vote to maintain services across departments contingent on ballot vote May 17
WHITMAN - May 5 - Whitman residents voted overwhelmingly to approve a $2 million Proposition 2.5 override at Monday's Annual Town Meeting, ensuring the town can maintain current service levels across all departments for the upcoming fiscal year.
The override measure passed by a vote of 148-66 after extensive discussion about the financial challenges facing the town and the potential consequences of not approving additional funding.
"We have an underfunded school district that is trying desperately to hold on to some of the meager gains they've made over the past five years, and our town departments are in the same situation," Select Board member Shawn Kain told residents during the debate. "We're getting hit hard by fixed costs and our revenues have plateaued. It's a bad combination."
The override will increase property taxes by approximately $372.66 annually, or $31.06 monthly, for the average single-family home valued at $495,736, according to Town Administrator Mary Beth Carter.
Finance Committee Chair Kathleen Ottina explained that the committee had unanimously recommended a one-year override rather than a multi-year approach.
"The reason for recommending the more conservative one-year override was we believed it maintained transparency and accountability with the Fiscal 26 funding sources solidly in place, and it would have a higher chance of being passed by the voters," Ottina said.
Several residents expressed concerns about the impact on those with fixed incomes, particularly seniors.
"When you go to the Council on Aging and as you become a senior and you're on a fixed income, that little amount makes a big difference," said Ed Winnett, a resident of Rainer Avenue. "There was a lady that said, I have no teeth. And she showed us she had no teeth because she can't afford it."
Supporters of the override emphasized that without it, critical services would face significant cuts, affecting public safety, education, and senior services.
School Committee member Dawn Byers highlighted that Whitman-Hanson Regional School District currently ranks in the bottom 20% of school spending statewide, an improvement from previously being in the bottom 1%.
"The budget that you will vote for tonight maintains the services we currently have at the bottom 20% in the state of Massachusetts," Byers said. "If you want to maintain those, then I ask you to vote yes to support the override."
Several speakers noted that the override would help prevent a potential "financial death spiral" where cuts to services could lead to residents seeking alternatives outside the town, further eroding the tax base.
Select Board member Justin Evans explained that while the town might face budget challenges in future years, there is "light at the end of the tunnel" with the Plymouth County Retirement Assessment obligation expected to decrease after 2030.
"So that three and a half million dollar obligation that is sitting on our books right now is still increasing at about 10 percent a year until 2030," Evans said. "When that falls off, it opens up a lot more capacity in the general fund to fund operations, capital, or whatever."
The town also approved several Community Preservation Committee requests, including $75,000 to fund the restoration and preservation of the World War I Memorial Arch on Temple Street.
Select Board Chair Carl Kowalski opened the meeting by acknowledging the collaborative work between the Finance Committee and Select Board in developing the budget.
"To see change this year with this Finance Committee and with this Board of Selectmen, they work together in concert to come up with a plan that we think is going to be the best for the town, or at least give the voters the opportunity to vote what they think is best for the town," Kowalski said.
The Annual Town Election, where residents will vote on town officers, will be held on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Town Hall.
Disclosure: South Shore News founder Justin Evans is a current member of the Whitman Select Board.