The Plymouth Advisory and Finance Committee turned its focus toward the finalization of the $309 million FY25 budget on March 11, as community leaders raised alarms over the rising costs of state-imposed requirements. Tom Pinto, President of the Education Association of Plymouth, addressed the committee regarding the staggering financial weight of unfunded mandates, which a recent analysis revealed now account for approximately 25 percent of the town’s total budget.

Chair Joseph Lalley opened the hybrid session at the Great Hall, providing instructions for both in-person and Zoom participants as the committee prepares for upcoming precinct caucuses. Pinto highlighted that the $41 million in mandates is particularly felt in the school department, where transportation costs remain disproportionately high due to the town’s 104-square-mile geography. The school department is working with state representatives on equitable funding bills, Pinto told the committee, though he clarified that the district is not currently pursuing regionalization as a solution to the $133 million school budget request.

The committee’s discussion reflected a deep divide over fiscal restraint and the necessity of new staffing. Member Scott Vecchi reiterated his opposition to significant personnel increases, such as the 16 new police officers previously recommended for Article 7. I remain concerned about staffing increases during these deficit cycles, Vecchi stated, cautioning that the town must protect its shrinking revenue cushion. Mark Snyder echoed this sentiment, adding that the town must prioritize fiscal restraint and look closely at project timelines as debt loads continue to block tax relief efforts.

Vice Chair Emily Tompkins argued that the committee’s recent work to codify policies like the Plymouth Community Trust bylaw is essential for maintaining local oversight. These measures are necessary to prevent significant policy shifts by individual department heads without oversight, Tompkins said. Conversely, Everett Malaguti urged the committee to remain wary of legal wording in new bylaws, noting that infrastructure modernization is key, but we have to be extremely cautious with the legal ambiguity that could lead to future litigation.

Public comment brought additional scrutiny to town operations. Dale Weber, a retired Department of Public Works employee, suggested the town expedite its review of wastewater efficiency. We need to look into anaerobic digestion for combined heat and power to improve efficiency at the plant, Weber noted, referencing ongoing discussions about H2S monitoring and equipment costs. Al Donardo, representing Precinct 17, pressed the committee for better transparency in financial reporting. The town needs to provide executive summaries of complex data to improve public understanding of our finances, Donardo said, supporting the Chair’s recent call for specific Key Performance Indicators.

The committee also reviewed the status of environmental projects and administrative budgets. Christine Richards advocated for more aggressive pursuit of state grant offsets for local lake maintenance, such as the Billington Sea weed treatment. We should be seeking state grants to help cover the costs of these environmental projects in future years, Richards suggested. Meanwhile, Brian Dunn and Gail Butler reviewed the funding for the Assessing and IT departments, with Dunn noting that the IT department needs to focus on those two public safety positions we previously prioritized rather than broader expansions.

As the meeting drew toward a close, members Maria Reitman, Molly Elizabeth O’Connor, Thomas Jacintho, Briana Keating, Myles Ramey, and David Paul Trudell worked through the final details of the Enterprise Funds. David Peck, representing Precinct 4, discussed the coordination required for the upcoming Town Meeting. The committee confirmed that the $309 million budget recommendation, including the 3.4% increase for schools and the 7% increase for the DPW, is now positioned for final debate at the precinct level.