Fairhaven Town Administrator, Keith Hickey, talks about the town’s budget crisis at a public information event at the Senior Center on 3/4/26. Photo by Beth David.
By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven Town Administrator, Keith Hickey, and Assistant Town Administrator of Finance/Town Accountant, Anne Carreiro, have been meeting with a variety of groups and organizations to talk about the budget and the consequences of passing or not passing a Proposition 2 1/2 override. Prop 2 1/2 is a state law that caps the increase in the town’s tax levy at 2 1/2 percent per year. The tax levy is the amount the town raises in property taxes.
Residents can vote to increase spending above the 2 1/2 percent with an override vote on a townwide ballot. In Fairhaven, the override vote must pass at Town Meeting on 5/2, and then at the townwide vote on 6/9.
On Monday, 3/2, the two went to the Council on Aging, where they were met by several residents.
Mr. Hickey said that the departments submitted two budgets for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). One funds current services and results in an increase in spending requiring an override of about $1.5 million for the next year’s operating budget.
The other budget submitted keeps spending levels below what is needed for an override and will result in cuts to staffing, services, maintenance, and cuts to the school budget.
Some cost increases that the town cannot control include health and liability insurance, contractual salary increases, utility and gas prices. State aid increased less than 1%, but state assessments increased, offsetting much of that.
Services that could be cut include overtime costs; some Rec Center programs; some Council on Aging/ Senior Center programs, such as outreach with the police department; community development programs such as the markets at Grimshaw Park, street fairs; police National Night Out; fire open house.
The public works department cuts could result in the elimination of lifeguards at the town beach, some tree trimming, curbside leaf pickup; hazardous waste day, and some street paving. Water and Sewer rates will be going up again.
Jim Hebert asked about the Rogers School building, if it can be sold, and if it is costing money to maintain. Kathy Lopes pointed out that money had been set aside to mothball the building.*
Mr. Hickey said the case was still tied up in court with a developer. Ms. Carreiro said the money in the account to maintain the building only has about $20,000 left in it. If the building is not sold, the town will have to allocate more money to maintain it.
Miles Grant asked about the school department cuts. Mr. Hickey said the town only controls how much money goes to the schools, not how it is spent. He said cuts could result in loss of programs or staff, but he had no details. The School Committee meeting had been canceled because of the storm.
The override will ask for about $3 million to keep the town going for 2–3 years. The first year, FY27, the town would assess about $1.5 million. The rest would be unused tax levy that the town can access for the next year. Meanwhile, the town will work to get more development and smart growth in town to increase the commercial tax base. Mr. Hickey noted that a Big Y grocery store is slated to open in Fairhaven next year. There are also a number of vacant commercial properties. The plan is to get enough new growth and development in the next two years so the 2 1/2 cap will be enough to fund operations.
Any group or organization that would like to invite the TA to meet with them, should call the TA’s office at 508-979-4023 or use the form on the TA page on the town website (below). Residents are encouraged to contact the TA’s office directly at https://fairhaven-ma.gov/town-administrator/ and use the contact form.
FY27 budget documents are on the town’s website through a link on the front page: https://fairhaven-ma.gov/, including Mr. Hickey’s presentation to the Select Board on 2/2/26 and the individual department budgets.
*Corrects attribution errors from previous versions.
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