SWAMPSCOTT — Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald and the Select Board are planning a meeting encompassing all departments to discuss the town’s financial status.
Fitzgerald emphasized that this meeting could potentially be more significant than in previous years, as some of the town’s long-standing financial policies were called into question during May’s Town Meeting. Multiple School Committee members expressed their disappointment in their department’s budget for fiscal year 2025 and the town’s financial policy of limiting each department to 2% plus new growth, leading Committee member Amy O’Connor to attempt to secure an additional $482,000 in funding through the town’s property-tax levy.
“We had a debate over whether or not our financial policy of 2% plus new growth is really important to hold on to. That has been a certain stresser for all of the town departments,” Fitzgerald said.
He explained how he believes that particular rule has helped him and other town leaders maintain discipline in spending and keep residential tax rates relatively low.
Fitzgerald revealed to the board that he had not yet reached out to the school district’s leaders, citing their likely preoccupation with the new elementary school. Board member Doug Thompson suggested that Fitzgerald be as transparent as possible with the district in the process of gathering the financial data.
“A lot of this will be driven by the data, but a lot will be driven by perception,” Thompson said. “Have we gotten the blessing from the schools to say yes, we can be the data collectors?”
Fitzgerald responded by saying that the schools are required to provide that information and that their permission is not technically needed. However, he agreed that connecting with them soon would be beneficial.
A tentative date for the joint meeting is currently set for mid-September, and the new elementary school was named as a possible location.
