Letter of Support for Hanover Advisory Committee FY26 Budget

Dear Fellow Hanoverians,

As community leaders, we are writing to express our collective support for the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Advisory Committee budget and the operational tax override proposed by the Select Board.  Strong town services and excellent schools are the foundation of a thriving community, enhancing quality of life, supporting economic growth, and instilling pride for residents of all ages.

We recognize the financial burden that inflation and rising costs of goods and services place on everyone, including municipalities, which also face higher expenses to maintain the essential town services we all depend on. After the failed override vote in 2024, however, residents have faced significant hardship due to the loss of critical services, and without a successful override, that reality will not change. In response, your town leaders have worked tirelessly to find a compromise that balances taxpayer costs with the restoration - and preservation -  of essential community services.

We believe the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Advisory Committee budget, and the operational tax override proposed by the Select Board, will put Hanover in a more stable, long term financial direction by accomplishing three important objectives:

(1) impactful restoration of lost services to our schools, public safety and other services;

(2) a gradual property tax increase cognizant of affordability for our residents; and

(3) creating excess budget capacity to sustain services into future years in the face of projected fiscal pressures.

We hope that a successful override achieving these objectives will allow Hanover to sustain both existing and restored services for the coming years without requiring major cuts or additional overrides. We invite you to participate in upcoming public forums on April 15th, 16th, and 28th, where town leadership will discuss the budget, the proposed override, and address your questions.

Finally, please remember that, as residents, you have the final say in shaping our community’s future through your votes at Annual Town Meeting on May 5th and Election Day on May 17th. Please join us in supporting the 2025 budget package and helping to build a strong and sustainable future for Hanover!

Thank you for your attention, your consideration, and your support.

Vanessa O’Connor, Chair, Hanover Select Board               

Pete Miraglia, Chair, Hanover School Committee                                     

Emmanuel Dockter, Chair, Hanover Advisory Committee