Marshfield Advisory Board Recommends $4 Million Override for Annual Town Meeting

MARSHFIELD -- June 11, 2026, Marshfield's Advisory Board voted unanimously to recommend the 3 Bravo, approximately $4 million Proposition 2.5 override to Annual Town Meeting voters gathering Monday. Advisory Board member Vincent Falcara presented a detailed methodology to the joint Select Board and Advisory Board session Thursday evening, explaining that the panel surveyed department heads one by one, found that all could survive the no-override 3 Alpha budget, but concluded that cuts to schools and other departments were "largely unacceptable," landing near a $3.4 million threshold close enough to the 3 Bravo option to warrant a 7-0-1 recommendation. Of that figure, roughly $2.4 million corresponds to Superintendent Dr. Patrick Sullivan's tier one school cuts, which include eliminating music teachers, tutors, and several specialist positions. Finance Director Megan LeMay disclosed that the town's $6.6 million in fiscal year 2026 free cash included $800,000 in one-time FEMA reimbursement and a final $350,000 Pilgrim Nuclear payment, neither of which will recur, compressing the FY27 free cash outlook to roughly $3 million. Capital Budget Committee Chair Jack Griffin reported by phone that his committee voted the same evening to allocate the full $1,419,000 available for capital projects, deferring the $1.7 million Ocean Bluff rip rap project to the fall. Two public commenters, Pamela Keith of Smoke Hill Ridge and Steve Lynch of Central Street, argued that the $7 million 3 Charlie budget option was added to the warrant illegally and called on Town Moderator James Fitzgerald to rule it out of order at Monday's meeting.