April 22, 2024 submitted by Glenn Mangurian 

Recent Town Meetings and voting have demonstrated that Hingham residents are prepared to make tough choices related to the Town budget and investments in the Town’s future. We are fortunate to have a broad range of talented volunteers who give their time to evaluate the evolving needs of the Hingham.

Declining Revenue and Evolving Needs

During the 2010s we benefited from a prolonged period of development and revenue growth. Taxes remained relatively stable while some evolving needs were deferred. For the last several years that revenue growth has slowed significantly at the same time that our aging infrastructure has needed replacement. Our fellow Town voters approved significant investments in the new Public Safety building and Foster School replacement projects. In addition the Town’s operating costs have risen faster than the declining revenue while growing beyond the Prop 2 ½ constraints. Again, Hingham residents voted to sustain the level and quality of Town services by approving an operational override last year. All of these investments were made cognizant of the impact on increased property taxes.

The 3.5% Pledge

Consistently, strong fiscal management has created a solid Town financial position. Recognizing the continued projected future revenue and expense gap, however, Town leaders created the FY24-28 Financial Management Plan. This plan included a public commitment to the taxpayers to hold budget increases for the municipal and school departments to 3.5% year over year, through FY27 (with some exceptions for out-of-district special education costs). The Financial Management Plan was signed by the Select Board, the School Committee, the Advisory Committee as well as the School Superintendent and the Town Administrator.

The Pledge Fulfilled

The Advisory Committee held 17 public meetings with Town and School leaders and with individual department heads. The recommended budgets reflect the 3.5% pledge. Tough choices (including expense and personnel reductions) had to be made to achieve the 3.5% budget growth commitment. Fortunately we have a total of 25 volunteer leaders (Select Board, the School Committee, the Advisory Committee) who have done the diligence on our behalf.

Be a Hingham Steward

An informed resident is a Hingham steward. I encourage you to read the Advisory Committee report as published in the Town Warrant (pages 5-13) for a more complete rationale for the recommended Town budget. You can also view the Hingham League of Women Voters Warrant Review 2024 video on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjifFDcFQKI&t=94s

Remember to attend the Town Meeting on Wednesday evening, April 24 at 7PM at the High School and vote in the Town election on Saturday, April 27.