To the editor:
As a concerned resident of Saugus, I want to share my perspective on the challenges our town continues to face and a practical path forward that could benefit all residents.
Thanks to prudent financial management by the current administration and town officials, Saugus has built a strong overall reserve position — with approximately $40 million in combined stabilization fund and free cash. (The stabilization fund itself is currently around $21 million, or 17.35% of the budget, while free cash sits at about $18 million.) This combined cushion provides a meaningful financial buffer and represents real progress as we work to address ongoing budgetary pressures. It is a far cry from the empty reserves and receivership concerns of the past, and we should be grateful for that stability.
That said, the recent contentious debate over increasing the level-service budget for our public school system highlights a deeper issue. While no one disputes the need for adequate school funding, simply raising taxes or drawing down our reserves should not be the only options. Our leaders must actively brainstorm new and sustainable revenue sources to support our schools and all other town services without placing undue burden on taxpayers.
A clear opportunity lies in the several vacant former elementary school buildings that currently generate no revenue while our municipal services remain strained. In recent years, these empty structures have sat idle — reminders of declining enrollment and past consolidations.
Roughly 26% of school-aged Saugus residents currently do not attend our public schools. This statistic is not just a data point; it is a red flag indicating both unmet demand for educational choices and untapped potential for the town.
My suggestion is straightforward: town officials should immediately explore repurposing these vacant properties to host a new Catholic school, ideally through a partnership with the Archdiocese or a qualified Catholic educational organization (via lease, sale, or public-private collaboration). This approach could turn a negative into a double positive by delivering multiple benefits:
- A new, reliable revenue stream for the town without relying solely on tax increases or reserve draws.
- An influx of new homebuyers attracted to a community offering both strong public and faith-based education options, which would help increase local property values.
- Relief for our public schools by reducing classroom sizes, allowing educators to deliver an even stronger educational experience for families who choose to remain in the public system.
- A stronger, more cohesive community rooted in neighborly and family-centered values that Catholic education has long promoted.
For too many decades, Saugus has seen its younger families and youth migrate away. Creating a vibrant new Catholic school could help reverse that trend by making our town a more attractive place for young families to put down roots and raise children.
A small group has attempted to use our students as a political tactic to cast shade on the current administration amid the school-budget discussions. In my view, this misses the larger point: the pressure for increased school funding is not a failure of leadership, but rather a clear indicator that our town needs more overall revenue to meet growing demands across all services.
I urge our Select Board, School Committee, and Finance Committee to set partisanship aside and begin serious, collaborative discussions on this opportunity. With creativity and forward thinking, we can protect our reserves, avoid unnecessary tax hikes, support our public schools, and build a brighter, more vibrant future for every family in Saugus.
Sincerely,
Mark V. Sacco Jr.
Saugus Resident
