Hingham Voters Approve Senior Center Design Funds, FY26 Budget

During a two-day Hingham Town Meeting, residents approved two critical items: a $2.5 million allocation for the continued design of a new Center for Active Living and the adoption of the town’s $165.8 million FY26 operating budget. 

Funding Approved for Senior Center Design

The passing of Article 15 gave approval for $2.5 million to advance the design of a new Hingham Center for Active Living (HCAL). The facility is proposed to be located on Bare Cove Park Drive and aims to address growing needs among the town’s senior population.

The funds will cover expenses for final design plans, architectural and engineering services, permitting, and an Owner’s Project Manager. The conceptual plan outlines a one-story, 28,000 square-foot building with amenities like outdoor activity space, accessible parking, and spaces for programs including fitness, educational sessions, and social services.

According to the Advisory Committee’s report, the new center is “core to serving the growing senior population in Hingham” and follows findings from a UMass community needs assessment. Residents raised concerns about the scale and location of the proposed building, but officials emphasized that the current center in Town Hall is insufficient, especially regarding parking and accessibility.

The project has been in development since 2020, with 50 public meetings held by the building committee and multiple feasibility studies. While some residents questioned the project’s potential cost of $35 million, town officials noted that no final construction funding is being requested at this time. The approved design funding will position the town to solicit construction bids and return to Town Meeting in 2026 with a refined plan and funding request.

FY26 Budget Follows 3.5% Growth Cap

Article 6, the town’s FY26 operating budget was also approved. The $165.8 million budget was developed under the guidelines of the town’s FY24–FY28 Financial Management Plan, which capped annual spending growth for municipal and school departments at 3.5%.

The budget maintains level services for schools and municipal departments while accounting for rising expenses, including a 20.6% increase in debt service largely tied to previously approved major capital projects like the Foster Elementary School and Public Safety Facility.

The Advisory Committee noted that while the town was able to meet its growth target, “offsets and reductions were required in both municipal and school budgets.” The municipal side reduced its initial request by over $800,000, and the school budget required over $1.5 million in reductions to remain within the growth cap.

To minimize tax impacts, the town will use $2.2 million from its Capital Project Cost and Debt Service Stabilization Fund. As a result, the projected FY26 tax increase for a median-value home ($1.01 million) will be approximately 2.1%, rather than the 4.1% it would have been without that financial offset.

The entire meeting was broadcast by Harbor Media and can be viewed in the link above.