By Beth David, Editor
There was lots of robust discussion as Acushnet voters forced some shuffling around of the budget proposed at the annual Town Meeting on Monday, 6/16/25, after amendments from the floor upset the delicate balance created by town officials.
Town Meeting was determined to replace $155,000 to the school budget so the district would not have to lay off two teachers. The department will still, however have eight fewer staff members due to retirements, and some people leaving, positions the department will not fill.
TM voters focused on rehiring two teachers or paraprofessionals who have been laid off.
Donny Williams spoke forcefully, saying he did not want to hear that the town was “broke,” when everyone could see they have plenty to spend from certified Free Cash and a healthy stabilization fund, which is essentially the town’s savings account/rainy day fund.
When town officials explained that only recurring revenue should be used for operating expenses, Mr. Williams said he understood, but he believed a “stop gap” measure was the answer for this year. He said they would then have time to figure it out.
Mr. Williams said they all just witnessed a “verbal argument” between the Finance Committee and the School Committee.
“It is glaringly apparent this is not about $155,000,” said Mr. Williams. “We’re not broke. We have four million in savings, we have 1.2 million in free cash.”
SB member Bob Hinckley said that town officials never said the town was “broke.”
“If we solve it tonight, it does not solve it for next year,” said Mr. Hinckley,
“I fully acknowledge we’re paying the Comcast bill out of the savings account,” said Mr. Williams. “I get that.”
Before they got to the operating budget, voters turned down the Department of Public Works request for a street sweeper for $275,000, with Mr. Williams leading the charge, saying that the money, from free cash, could be used for the school department.
And Town Meeting did add $155K from Free Cash to supplement the School Department budget, bringing that total to $19,933,167.
But, Selectboard member Kevin Gaspar would not be deterred. He was determined to get the street sweeper for the DPW and not want to take any money from the stabilization fund.
The town went back and forth a bit and had some interesting procedural moves, needing to reconsider some votes and amend motions.
In the end, the town added the $155K to the school department; then went back and took $50,000 from its original $100K for the OPEB Trust Account; rescinded the vote to put $100K into the stabilization fund, putting nothing in that account this year; and funded the street sweeper at $270K instead of $275K, equalling $155K for the school department.
The final number for the operating budget was then back to the original $36,988,765.
Part of the discussion revolved around how the extra $155K would be spent. School Districts in Mass. have complete autonomy for spending. The SB can not dictate how they can spend the money the town appropriates to them.
Finance Committee member Peter Benoit said the School Department used COVID funds to “inflate their hiring,” and FinCom told them three years ago this day would come.
When Moderator Les Dakin said Mr. Benoit should give others a chance to talk, he said “I will in a moment.”
“You’re beginning to arouse my competitive spirit,” said Mr. Dakin.
Some speakers noted the raises that school department employees got, and the hefty salaries of administrators. Some complained about the opaque nature of the school budget, with the FinCom agreeing, saying it took years for them to get the level of detail they got this year. Others noted that the School District was warned for years that it was headed in the wrong direction
Mr. Gaspar noted that there were a lot of concerned parents in the room, especially those with Special Education students.
He said they all see the brick wall coming: “if you don’t you’re blind. It’s been a conversation for a long time.”
He repeated his assertion that the town does not have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. It is not just the school department, he said, it is the “mentality” with all departments.
“In today’s society it just seems to be about me, me, me,” said Mr Gaspar. “And not about us, us, us.”
One voter reminded town meeting that school committee members and selectboard members are elected.
“You can vote them out,” he said.
The Planning Board budget also caused a bit of discussion. Mark Francois, the Planning Board chairperson, said the PB did not support the budget. He said they recommended level funding to retain their clerical position. The budget as proposed is a 38% reduction, and eliminates the clerical position entirely.
Mr. Francois advocated for putting the position back in, saying the department had a lot of work coming up for the master plan. He said there is the potential for grants, but they take time.
He also noted that the best way to get more revenue for the town was through zoning changes that would allow for more commercial properties. Acushnet has not filled the Planner position he said, they share a planner with Mattapoisett.
SB Chairperson David Wojnar said the town has consolidated the clerical position with other departments so residents can go to one place for several departments.
He said too often the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing.
Mr. Francois said they are always saying they need more money, and “now you’re going to cut the department that finds more money.”
He said the part time planner will be wasting her time on “stupid emails” instead of finding money for the town.
“You guys are not seeing the forest through the trees,” said Mr. Francois.
Mr. Wojnar painted a gloomy picture of the future, saying if they keep kicking the can down the road, everything will eventually be regionalized, not just planning.
Mr. Gaspar said he had spoken to Mr. Francois about the changes and promised him that if they did not work, they would change course.
After a bit of back and forth, Mr. Gaspar said, “I did not lie to you.”
He noted it is the Selectboard that makes personnel decisions. If it backfires, they will figure out what to do.
“I made that promise to you,” said Mr. Gaspar. “I never broke a promise to anyone in town.”
“You’ve got 100 and some odd witnesses,” said Mr. Francois.
“And they all just heard me loud and clear,” said Mr. Gaspar.
TM also approved all other spending articles, such as Community Preservation Committee projects, including $60K to relocate historic memorials at the Russell Library. Spending for capital items, included two police cruisers ($150K), $45K for a used maintenance truck, $40K for HVAC repairs to the senior center; and $80K for a new compressor for filling SCBA bottles for the fire department.
TM also passed the three zoning bylaws.
An amendment from Ryan Rezendes on the Solar Array article also passed, despite the objection of Mr. Francois. The change included security fencing to the setbacks from roads. Mr. Francois said any changes should be carefully made and include hearings.
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