Marshfield residents received a clearer look at the budget choices facing the town as officials presented three spending scenarios that range from no override to a level-services budget supported by a larger tax increase.
During the May 28 Select Board meeting, Interim Town Administrator Peter Morin outlined draft budget options tied to Article 3 and explained how each scenario would affect schools, municipal departments and staffing levels. The presentation comes as officials prepare materials related to the proposed override options.
Morin said the first option would be a no-override budget totaling approximately $123.99 million. A second option would increase spending to about $128.03 million through a $4 million override. The third option would create a roughly $129.63 million budget supported by $5.6 million in additional override spending.
Morin said the latest figures represent a change from earlier projections that estimated a $7 million override would be needed to maintain current service levels.
"The distinction between the seven million and the current 5.6 million is in order to achieve level services, the reason why you only need 5.6 million is because former interim town administrator, Charlie Sumner, Meg LeMay, the town accountant and myself, went through the townside budgets and looked where there were either duplications of spending or reductions could be made that would not sacrifice service to a full extent, but could be made with modifications such as reductions of hours and elimination of positions in a couple of circumstances," Morin said.
Morin also said health insurance costs came in lower than initially forecast after the Mayflower Municipal Health Group used reserves to reduce a projected increase. He said that change would save the town approximately $300,000.
While officials had not finalized specific staffing figures, Morin outlined the broad impacts associated with each scenario. Under the no-override budget, he said schools would face significant reductions affecting programs and personnel, while major municipal departments would see position reductions and cuts in work hours.
"With no override, there will be a major impact on school personnel and programs that will impact every facet of the school programs in the school department. There would be reductions of positions in all major departments and there would be reductions in hours worked in many departments as well," Morin said.
Under the $4 million override proposal, Morin said schools and town departments would still experience reductions, although fewer layoffs and staffing cuts would be required. The largest override option would provide funding close to current service levels, though some reductions would still occur.
"With the level services budget, the schools would be funded to their current level services. There would be some reductions due to [the] economy in some departments, but there would be close to level service funding," Morin said.
Select Board members discussed how the information should be presented to voters before Town Meeting and any subsequent override vote. Chair Rick Smith questioned whether residents would benefit from more detailed information on staffing impacts and household tax costs.
The board discussed whether or not future public materials should include estimates of potential layoffs associated with each budget option. Smith said he was open to removing a line item showing total full-time-equivalent layoffs after Kelley raised concerns that it could influence voters. Morin argued that residents should have access to detailed information about the consequences of each option, including staffing reductions, so they can make informed decisions.
"Well, I think people are looking for what the exact impact is going to be and I'm not trying to create bias. I'm trying to inform the voters that they can make a decision so that they know what they're voting on," Morin said.
Morin said he intended to provide more precise information before the presentation materials are finalized and posted publicly. He also supported developing an online calculator that would allow residents to estimate the impact on their own tax bills.
"The calculator's better than just having a static value that everyone uses where they can plug in the value of their home and figure out what the impact is," Morin said.
Morin said the materials remained in draft form and would be posted once finalized.
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