Letter: The Truth About Norwell's Override — And What’s at Stake
Hello neighbors and friends,
My name is John McGrath. While I currently serve as Chair of the Norwell Advisory Board, I’m writing to you today simply as a fellow resident, neighbor, parent, and friend. My wife and I have two young children—our oldest attends Cole School—and we are deeply invested in Norwell’s future.
I want to start by providing the readers a perspective to why I am uniquely positioned to speak on Norwell’s financial standing and upcoming override vote. Professionally, I am a former Budget Director and now work as a Director of Strategy & Innovation for a consulting firm. I’ve spent my career in finance, advising both public and private sector organizations on how to budget and plan more effectively.
In addition to the annual independent audit of the town’s finances, the Advisory Board—made up of dedicated volunteers—reviews the budget and historical financials to ensure responsible fiscal stewardship. We examine each line item in the operating budget, as well as all capital spending and town warrants, and ask tough questions to ensure transparency and accountability.
As we approach Town Meeting and the critical override vote, I want to share why this moment matters so deeply—not just for the town’s financial health, but for the future of Norwell itself. This is an incredible place to live, raise a family, and grow old—but that quality of life is now at risk.
Why Norwell is Worth Fighting For
Norwell is a truly special place to call home. People choose to live here for many reasons, but these ten stand out:
Top-Rated Schools – Norwell High School is ranked #21 in Massachusetts, our entire school system delivers outstanding academic and extracurricular experiences while spending less per student than peer towns. This speaks volumes to our fiscal responsibility and academic leadership.
Scenic and Quiet Suburban Setting – With Norris Reservation, Black Pond, and historic neighborhoods, our town feels like New England at its best.
Proximity to Boston – We offer a peaceful home base just 25 miles from the city.
Strong Sense of Community – From parades to civic groups, Norwell is a town that shows up and gets involved.
Low Crime & High Safety – Families rest easy knowing our streets are safe.
Beautiful Homes & Steady Property Values – Home values are up 76% in the last decade, reflecting both demand and town desirability.
Access to Beaches & Nature – We're minutes from the coast and the Cape.
Cultural and Historic Identity – With a legacy dating back to colonial times and rich cultural assets like the James Library, we’re a town with character and history.
Strong Financial Management – Norwell holds a AAA bond rating (highest rating for fiscal solvency), hasn’t needed an override in over 12 years, and has made every dollar count.
Engaged Residents – Whether it’s voter turnout or volunteerism, Norwell cares.
But this moment requires more than pride—we need action.
Statistical Information
Here is a breakdown of the FY26 Budget Expenditures by Department:
You’ll notice that the education budget accounts for 50% of the operating budget. However, when fixed costs—such as pensions, benefits, resource officers, crossing guards, field maintenance, and other shared services—are included, the school budget makes up approximately 70% of Norwell’s operating budget.
When looking at the proposed cuts, the impacts are clearly aligned with this framework:
School-related expense reductions will account for 69% of the total override cuts, but it’s important to note that every town department—across public safety, public works, and general government—will also face budget reductions.
Lastly - to demonstrate the fiscal savviness of the Norwell Public Schools, see below for the spend per pupil vs. the high school rankings of like towns in Massachusetts (sorted by best ranked school left to right):
Norwell is ranked #21 in the state, despite having the second-lowest per-pupil spending among comparable towns. The only town spending less is Hanover, which is currently ranked #87 and expected to decline further due to ongoing funding shortages. While this is a feather to hang in our caps, this financial policy for the Norwell school district is not sustainable moving forward.
Why the Override is Necessary
At our last two Town Meetings (2023 and 2024), the Town Administrator clearly communicated that an override would be necessary in 2025. That day has come.
The proposed $3.7M override is not a wish list. It’s the amount required to maintain current services—nothing more. Due to state-imposed limitations under Proposition 2½, our ability to grow revenues (capped at 2.5%) has not kept pace with real-world cost increases.
Two specific areas alone—our Plymouth County retirement assessment and healthcare costs—will rise by over $1.5M in FY26, outpacing our $1.3M allowable tax levy increase. This is a structural challenge, not a one-time glitch.
Other drivers include:
Rising costs for public education, public safety, and trash/recycling services
Increased emergency call volumes and utility costs
Inflation and expiring labor agreements
Contractual obligations such as pensions and employee benefits
Renegotiation of transportation, utilities, and waste contracts
This override gives us breathing room—time to develop sustainable solutions for long-term stability.
What Happens If the Override Fails
The consequences are immediate and severe. This is not hyperbole or a scare tactic—it’s fact.
In Our Schools:
Elimination of 24 critical school positions: 7 teachers, 10 aides/specialists, 2 librarians, 1 nurse, 1 assistant special education director, 1 inclusion specialist, and 2 secretaries
Loss of junior varsity and freshman sports programs
A 10% cut in classroom supplies and increased bus fees, pushing the burden onto parents
Elimination of technology programs at the elementary level
No non-emergency building maintenance, leading to a reactive state vs. proactive (typically a more expensive practice)
In Public Safety:
Annual emergency response calls rose from an average of 315 (2017–2021) to 921 (2022–2024) — nearly a 300% increase. Fire staff only increased by 4 FTEs (18%) in that time.
With future senior housing developments like Brightview (St. Helens lot), EMS demand will rise further.
A “no” vote would lead to immediate cuts to fire staff and overtime, reducing service capacity.
Police may lose 3 officers, including the removal of the school resource officer. We may also lose both school crossing guards.
Without a front desk clerk at night, the station could go dark—meaning walk-in victims of domestic violence or crises would not be welcomed by staff.
Town Services & Library:
Reduced snow plowing may result in unsafe roads and school closures, forcing parents to find emergency childcare.
Town buildings and fields may fall into visible decline
Norwell Public Library may lose state certification if budget cuts bring material spending below the required 16% threshold.
Loss of certification means Norwell residents would be barred from borrowing from surrounding library networks.
Reduction in funding for the Council on Aging resulting in fewer transportation options and limited access to vital programs and materials for seniors; older residents may soon face new fees for wellness services that were previously free.
Impacts on home values:
Loss of property value - These reductions in services can diminish the town's appeal to potential homebuyers, impacting property values.
Neighboring towns that have not passed similar overrides have seen 10+% decrease in home values YOY, while Norwell is up 4% (realtor.com)
What We’ve Seen Elsewhere
We don’t have to guess what happens when towns don’t pass overrides. The evidence is all around us:
Duxbury: Missed an override by just 193 votes in March 2025. As a result, 24 staff positions are being cut, including 11 classroom teachers. Families are now organizing to bring back sports teams and programs through private fundraising—programs that used to be supported by the town budget. (Duxbury Clipper)
Braintree: In 2023, the town cut 33 teachers, including high school staff that forced course offerings to shrink. Large class sizes are now common, and school morale has declined. Residents are pushing for another override just one year later to restore basic services. (WGBH)
Hanover: Without override approval in recent years, Hanover now ranks in the bottom 15% of Massachusetts school districts in terms of student-to-teacher ratios. Some grades have 27+ students per classroom, and specialized services are stretched thin. The are currently seeking an override for FY26 and considering closing their Library if the override does not pass to fund essential services. (South Shore News)
Franklin: Cut 40 educators in the FY25 budget due to failed override efforts. This led to major reductions in special education and guidance services, larger class sizes, and a drop in rankings that directly impacted property values. (Milford Daily News)
Middleborough, East Bridgewater, and North Attleborough have all faced override-related cuts that reduced library hours, emergency response capabilities, and access to mental health services in schools.
The message is clear: if we don’t act now, we will lose the services that make Norwell the town we all love.
How We Move Forward
The override is not a blank check—it’s a bridge. A bridge to give the town time to address the root causes of our structural deficit and stabilize our finances in a responsible way.
There are real opportunities ahead:
Capital Asset Planning for better tracking and lifecycle management of Fire, Police, and DPW vehicles could significantly reduce maintenance and replacement costs.
Health Insurance Renegotiation to manage premium increases and improve predictability.
ERP Modernization to streamline financial, HR, and operational systems and reduce inefficiencies.
Town Facility Consolidation to eliminate redundancy and lower maintenance costs.
Revenue Growth by supporting responsible commercial development and broadening our tax base.
We can’t control state mandates like pension obligations, but we can control how we plan and respond.
Call to action
I encourage everyone to stay informed, ask questions, and make an educated decision about the proposed override. Please consider attending one of the upcoming public meetings:
Town of Norwell Override Outreach Meetings
Tuesday, April 8 – 7:00 PM – Norwell Public Library
Wednesday, April 16 – 2:00 PM – Norwell Public Library
Wednesday, April 30 – 1:30 PM – Norwell Council on Aging
Thursday, May 1 – 7:00 PM – Norwell Public Library
Norwell Town Meeting
Monday, May 5 – 6:30 PM – Norwell Middle School
This meeting will decide whether the override question moves forward to the May 17th ballot, so all registered voters in your household should attend in person to ensure their votes are counted. Please plan accordingly—it may be a long evening, so consider arranging childcare in advance.
Override Vote
Saturday, May 17 – 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM – Norwell Middle School
This is when we vote to approve or not approve the override. Look for Question #2 on the ballot.
Thank you for caring about Norwell. Let’s come together to protect what makes this town so special—for our families, our future, and the generations to come.
Sincerely,
John McGrath