May Whitman Updates

FY25 Budget and Town Election

Town Meeting summary

In a 4 hour Town Meeting, one of the most interesting I’ve been a part of, the Finance Committee proposed an alternate budget to meet the operating budget assessed by the schools without the need for an override. As a result the override failed and the school budget was approved through use of free cash and deferred capital. Other changes you may notice is the name of the Board of Selectmen was changed to Select Board and the town accepted the proposed MBTA communities overlay zone.

My recap: https://www.facebook.com/VoteJustinEvans/posts/pfbid0224X9jZhLYPZWHuszJCu6MaG2MW7ZPxzb8SQfTGKNQamvybBtxACQGj5gFuJn3FXjl

Express articles: https://whitmanhansonexpress.com/towns-divided-on-mbta-communities/ and https://whitmanhansonexpress.com/tm-votes-reject-override/

WHCA recording: https://youtu.be/mUhbs-bnKXQ?si=eZRndWRUKqAXnl17

Town Election Summary

Incumbents Dan Salvucci (Select Board), Fred Small (School Committee), and Joe Iannone (DPW Commission) held their seats and Rosemary Connolly, a 6 year member of the Finance Committee, won a School Committee seat formerly held by Chris Scriven. Ballot questions for an override and to make the treasurer/collector’s position an appointed one both failed at the ballot.

My preliminary results: https://www.facebook.com/VoteJustinEvans/posts/pfbid02GwpvEtWs98BUJBfBLMYnxNwrLQN1WYCUjQqbZ79LLCAxVozit1AkZhCscpRiqWdQl

FY25 School budget update

Whitman appropriated money to fund its share of the school budget, but Hanson didn’t. As a result the school committee met again on May 8 to reconsider the assessment and kept it where it was. Hanson will be having a Special Town Meeting on June 17th to consider funding the school assessment again. If it approves a lesser amount, the Regional School District will have to either accept the lower appropriation or call a District Wide Town Meeting where voters from both Whitman and Hanson combine to vote the assessments. Assuming that would happen after July 1, the School District would start the fiscal year without an approved budget and will be funded month to month at a level determined by the State Commissioner of Education until a budget is approved. If the eventual budget results in a number less than what Whitman approved on May 6 and the school committee votes to lower the assessment to Whitman, extra funds would be returned next year as free cash. The assessment, Town Meeting, reconsideration cycle repeats until we reach an agreement … or the State intervenes.

Express articles: https://whitmanhansonexpress.com/school-panel-resubmits-assessments/ and https://whitmanhansonexpress.com/closing-the-school-budget-gap/

Other news

Whitman Hanson and Dollars for Scholars Award Night

The 62 Awards night for Dollars for Scholars was held on May 29, distributing $186.277 to deserving students in the class of 2024.

WHCA recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I9gikyZQug

Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/pc2CgF2wnwYWvgxn/

Marie Lailer bench and tree dedication

A bench and tree in front of Town Hall were dedicated to a longtime town volunteer who passed away unexpectedly in December of 2022, Marie Lailer. Marie was the chair of the Historical Commission, President of the Dyer Memorial Library, and as an active member of the Whitman Community Emergency Response Team. Her husband, Ken, donated the bench and the tree was a donation from the Historical Commission and the Friends of the Park.

Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/WhitmanHC/posts/pfbid02eqwXh9isvBDJNgCL5FAZmmeL6BGdaDjs7f4F7MPgxep3t1nQ5AuQtRv63ZdasfXEl

WHCA recording: https://youtu.be/AR1lcvJTGZw?si=Yxy8t0npNLRDcNMm