Scituate Balances Budget Without Override While Neighboring Communities Face Deficits
Planning Board Recommends Prohibiting Short-Term Rentals in Accessory Dwelling Units
SCITUATE - March 4 - The town has successfully balanced its fiscal year 2026 budget without requiring an override, a notable achievement as 14 South Shore communities prepare to vote on operational overrides due to budget shortfalls.
Town Administrator Jim Boudreau presented the balanced budget to the Select Board and Advisory Committee during their joint meeting on March 4, highlighting additional revenue of $337,878 between the governor's budget and other changes.
"We ended up with $337,878 in additional revenue between the government's budget and other changes," Boudreau said. "Fixed cost netted out $21,000 more. So that's a negative $21,000. Gave us $316,000 in additional revenue from when we started the budget."
The additional funds allowed restoration of several budget items previously cut, including IT contracts, facility maintenance, seasonal DPW salaries, veterans services, library funding, and beautification projects.
Select Board members commended the financial team for their work.
"All of our peers have thrown up their hands and done an override this year," one said. "They've made some tough choices this year, but that we can go to the town without having to override this year is quite exceptional."
The balanced budget comes as neighboring communities face significant deficits. Several towns are planning overrides: Duxbury is asking for more than $5 million, Norwell will be in the $4 million range, and Hanover in the $3.5 million range. *editor’s note: links added to South Shore News coverage of each
Other communities facing deficits include Whitman ($2.2 million), Cohasset ($1-2 million), Halifax ($2.5 million), and Hanson ($2.9 million).
To achieve the balanced budget, officials eliminated several positions, including director of planning, a position in the finance director's office, a part-time public affairs person, and a zoning enforcement position.
"Empty positions that we have that were important that we wanted to fill, really with the need to reduce the budget, didn't seem to make sense that we were going to cut someplace else," Boudreau explained.
The town is also considering a change in health insurance carriers to save money. The current provider, MIIA, is projecting a 17.44% increase, while Mayflower Municipal Health Group is projecting a 7% increase. The Select Board voted to enter into the process of potentially switching carriers.
"The good thing is it's Blue Cross, the Blue Cross coverage again, is identical for most of the employees and pretty close to identical. So they won't see a change in their benefits, but they will see a significant reduction in what they were expecting," Boudreau said.
In other business, the Planning Board presented a proposed bylaw for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to comply with the Affordable Homes Act signed in August 2024. The act allows ADUs by right without owner occupancy if the dwelling is less than 50% of the gross floor area of the primary dwelling or 900 square feet, whichever is less.
A key point of debate was whether to allow short-term rentals in ADUs. The Planning Board recommends prohibiting them, arguing that short-term rentals would undermine the state's goal of creating permanent housing.
"The Affordable Homes Act is for permanent housing, and they have legislated that we use our home for permanent housing," said Planning Board Chair Patty Lambert. "We spoke to people who are definitely affected by this three years in town, and they do not want to see their community turned into a hotel."
Select Board member James Gilmore questioned the restriction.
"Why are we restricting the flexibility of that? Why are you restricting this? Because that's discriminatory, quite frankly," Gilmore said.
Lynda Ferguson, speaking as a resident, supported the prohibition on short-term rentals in ADUs.
"The intent of this law that was passed at the state level was to provide for long-term housing for aging adults, grown children who can't afford to live in this community, to allow them to be rented out as Airbnbs defeats that purpose," Ferguson said.
Other items discussed at the meeting included:
• A $5 million authorization for seawall repairs to have funds available for emergencies and grant applications
• A $65,000 contract for connecting the lower pond to the irrigation pond at Widow's Walk Golf Course
• A proposed bylaw regarding abandoned and vacant buildings
• Changes to parking fines and sidewalk betterments
• A bylaw amendment regarding the right to fish
The Select Board plans to continue discussions on some items at their next meeting on March 11, including the Community Preservation Committee's recommendations that have not yet been voted on.