Marshfield Select Board Approves $59.7 Million School Budget for FY2026

Budget represents 3.47% increase over previous year with additional free cash allocation

MARSHFIELD - March 24 - The Marshfield Select Board approves a $59,705,002 school budget for fiscal year 2026, representing a 3.47% increase over the previous year's budget of $57,702,307. The decision comes after negotiations to find additional funding sources to support the school system.

"We did a good job of finding additional funding sources to help support the school," says Town Treasurer Shaun Strobel during Monday's Select Board meeting. "Just keep in mind that they were requesting 5.37%. We were able to come up with 3.57%, and then also on top of that, provide them with free cash."

The budget includes a reallocation of $44,626 from an unfilled budgeted position in the tax assessor's office and $50,000 from the unclassified section that was originally allocated for unemployment insurance. Through discussions with the school department, the town also identified two additional funding sources totaling $177,000.

These changes represent a total of $271,626 being added to the school department's budget, bringing it closer to the level funding request of 4.76%.

In addition to the appropriated budget, the town plans to allocate $631,634 in free cash to the schools for transportation, Medicaid, Chromebooks, and classroom technology. When combined with the appropriated budget, this brings the total percentage increase to 4.57%.

Despite these increases, Strobel notes there remains a funding gap of $112,306 between what the schools need for level funding services and what they will receive.

"In order for the schools to operate at the same level of services that they provide, that's what we refer to as level funding," Strobel explains. "That shortfall, that gap of $112,000, will signal to them that there needs to be either some sort of cut or reduction in service, or they'll need to go into conservation mode."

Select Board member Eric Kelley expresses concerns about the school budget process, suggesting the schools should undergo an efficiency study.

"Do you think the schools should go through some kind of efficiency study and figuring out what they could do better?" Kelley asks. "I have no confidence in any of the school committee members in regards to really drilling down in regards to their budget."

Strobel acknowledges this suggestion has merit. "I think that's a good point, to maybe perhaps engage in some sort of consulting service to see if there's some lifts or some efficiencies that could be gained in some areas of the school operation."

He also points out that both the schools and town face challenges with unfunded mandates from higher levels of government.

The total cost to the town for supporting the schools extends beyond the $59.7 million operating budget. Strobel notes the town also provides approximately $15 million in additional support for debt services, pension contributions, administrative costs, facilities, benefits, and other expenses, bringing the total school-related expenditures to about $73 million.

The Select Board approves the amended school budget with a 2-1 vote, with Kelley voting against the measure.

In other business, the Select Board:

- Approves the renewal of Verizon New England's cable television license for five years, maintaining the current 4% fee on gross annual revenues that supports public, educational, and government (PEG) access services

- Votes on 24 special town meeting warrant articles and 11 annual town meeting warrant articles, including measures related to accessory dwelling units, Community Preservation Committee funding, and tax relief for veterans and elderly residents

- Accepts a $5,000 donation from the Friends of the Ventress Memorial Library for new materials and a $100 donation for Veterans Services

- Approves waiving building permit fees for window replacements at the animal shelter

- Renews fuel storage licenses for 18 local businesses and seasonal alcohol licenses for seven establishments

The Select Board also discusses concerns about declining cable subscription revenue affecting funding for Marshfield Community Media. Sean Leary, Executive Director of Marshfield Community Media, notes they saw "the steepest decline we have in a while at around $12,000 to $13,000 fiscal year over fiscal year."

Town Administrator Michael Maresco points out that if federal regulations don't change to allow taxation of streaming services, "we're gonna have to foot the bill because we have to provide public access."

March 25 - Marshfield's Joint Advisory Board and Select Board meeting Tuesday night exposed financial pressures and sparked discussions on a proposed solar project at the town's dog park. The nearly three-hour session covered only six of the warrant articles slated for the upcoming Town Meeting.

The meeting, which began with a review of the Advisory Board's seven recommendations for improving the budget process, quickly delved into detailed discussions of warrant articles that will appear before voters.

"This is a great precursor to Town Meeting when we've got a lot of people there and we're really trying to do the business of Town Meeting as effectively as we possibly can," says Town Moderator Jim Fitzgerald.

A proposed solar project at the town's dog park generated extensive debate. The article would authorize the Select Board to lease town-owned land for solar PV arrays and carports for 20 years.

Town Administrator Michael Maresco explains the project would provide shade for dogs and their owners while generating green electricity.

"So if you've been to the police station, you've been to the fairgrounds, they have carport arrays and the carport is just that. It's a steel structure. It has steel poles. It has a roof membrane. And then the panels sit on top of that and they provide shade," Maresco says.

The project, which would cover about half the dog park area, is expected to generate approximately $20,000 annually for the town. However, Advisory Board Chair Rick Smith raises concerns about the procurement process, noting the information being used is from nearly six years ago.

"Why wouldn't we go back and put it back out to a procurement process before moving forward here?" Smith asks.

Town Counsel Robert Galvin confirms a new procurement process would likely be necessary, stating, "I specifically added that language because I expected us to comply with procurement laws."

The meeting also reveals significant financial challenges facing the town. Article 6 proposes transferring more than $4.5 million from certified free cash to fund 26 different items, including:

- $173,517 for jetty repair

- $370,000 for municipal software

- $284,000 for police accreditation

- $900,000 for reserves

The jetty repair funding generates particular interest, with Harbormaster Mike DiMeo explaining it's part of a larger project with the Army Corps of Engineers that could bring $15 million in federal funding to Marshfield.

"The Army Corps will allocate $15 million when we get to construction of what we decide needs to be done," DiMeo says. "The town has a stake in that as well."

Several school-related expenses in the free cash article draw scrutiny, including $250,000 for Chromebooks and $100,000 for classroom technology.

Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Tom Miller explains the district is trying to develop a replacement system for student devices.

"We've been utilizing one-time funds, and this is another one-time fund that we're receiving to get this done," Miller says.

Select Board member Eric Kelley expresses concern about the ongoing technology costs.

"At the rate it's going right now, I mean, you think you have a bunch of problems. I think the town's got a bunch of problems, but where these companies are taking advantage and the way the state operates, it's going to sink us," Kelley says.

The meeting also addresses a proposed tax relief program for elderly and disabled residents. Article 4 would allow taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to a fund when paying their tax bills.

"This will give people an opportunity. There will be a mechanism for them to contribute a dollar or more, whatever they want, to help either senior citizens that are having trouble paying their taxes or disabled people that are having trouble paying their taxes," Maresco explains.

Other articles discussed include:

- Unpaid bills from previous years totaling $15,056.53

- Updates to personnel bylaws and compensation schedules

- Adding paid parental leave for town employees

Due to the late hour and extensive discussions, the boards vote to suspend the meeting after covering only six articles. They plan to reconvene at a later date to address the remaining warrant articles.

"These are matters of our tax dollars and how our tax dollars are spent, and it deserves the time and attention to ask the questions and to understand exactly what we're asking our fellow citizens to vote on," Smith says.

The Advisory Board also presents seven recommendations to improve the town's budget process, including earlier collaboration on department budgets, creating a five-year financial plan for the school district, and considering a revenue sharing agreement between the town and schools.

Full meetings available via Marshfield Community Media. March 24 and March 25.