Marblehead’s police and fire departments are facing a new reality as the town’s $4.2 million budget deficit impacts public safety services and puts increasing pressure on strained resources.
That reality came through loud and clear during multiple budget meetings with Finance Committee members as they reviewed the budgets of departments under the Select Board’s jurisdiction.
Fire Chief Jason Gilliland highlighted his department’s precarious position as it faced the loss of three positions last year, operating with a minimum of nine staff members per shift instead of the normal staffing of ten and one short of the standard put forward by the National Fire Protection Association.
“Those are the numbers we’ve always felt keep the firefighters safe,” Gilliland said, emphasizing that being understaffed stretches the department thin in maintaining safe operations.
“We are very, very tight. Which means that when you don’t have a budgeted position, any type of change in personnel greatly affects operations,” Gilliland said, emphasizing the critical nature of maintaining staffing levels to ensure the safety and quality of service to the community. “If we have any more staff reductions, we won’t be able to give or receive mutual aid because we won’t have the bodies to do it.”
Concern exists that if further cuts are needed next fiscal year, the Franklin Street fire station may need to be closed. That could jeopardize response times to fires in the historic part of town.
“I lived through a time before where we did close, Franklin Street,” Gilliland said, “and you don’t want Franklin Street closed up especially if you get a fire down the lower part of town.”
Similarly, the Police Department is grappling with its own challenges. With a current force of 30 officers out of the full complement of 32, the department is already operating under strain, a situation exacerbated by a 16-17% increase in service calls over the past year.
Police Chief Dennis King said he is trying to get somebody to the police academy right now.
“There are a lot of effects on staffing and under staffing as it relates to overtime,” King explained. “We are anticipating a greater number of overtime hours.”
He voiced concerns about the department’s capacity to maintain operational levels.
“Right now today we’re running at 30 [officers],” said King. “Also if we had, for example, an injury or retirement, it becomes very difficult to keep the operations at the same level.”
Their testimony underscored the town’s financial position as rising expenses, stagnant tax revenue and a structural deficit threaten to undermine the town’s financial stability.
The town projects revenue for the upcoming fiscal year at $107 million, while the proposed budget for fiscal 2025 stands at $111 million, leaving a daunting $4.2 million gap. Town Finance Director Aleesha Nunley Benjamin outlined the challenges faced by the town, including a 7% increase in health insurance costs, escalating retirement expenses, a staggering 20.66% jump in trash fees and a 5% annual rise in contractual obligations.
The Department of Public Works has also felt the pinch, too, with head Amy McHugh saying limited manpower and aging equipment have hindered the department’s ability to respond to residents’ requests.
“We are really trying to restructure how the whole department works so you have a better hierarchy [where] we have more people who can take more responsibility,” said McHugh.
In an effort to mitigate service reductions, the town has temporarily shifted some expenses to department revolving funds. The Council on Aging and the Harbormaster’s Office have turned to grants and private funding to supplement their budgets, with Harbormaster Mark Souza exploring ways to generate additional revenue through increased fees like mooring fees.
To address the structural deficit, Marblehead is considering a multifaceted approach. Proposed measures include $22,000 in local fee hikes and a potential room tax (up to 6%) and 0.75% meals tax, which could generate $400,000 in revenue.
“Our goal is to rebuild our organization to generate the revenues needed to support both the schools and the town, but it will take time and cooperation from all departments,” Kezer said.
As part of the town’s deficit reduction plan, half of the $4.2 million shortfall will be assigned to schools. The town side of Marblehead’s local government has opted not to seek a general Proposition 2 ½ tax override this year. So far, the School Committee has not proposed an override.
Finance Committee Chair Alec Goolsby called on both town and school departments to develop long-term strategies to tackle the structural deficit.
“Marblehead needs a [long-term] plan to continue to be developed,” Goolsby said. “There’s certain steps that have been taken so far, from a technology perspective, from a revenue-seeking perspective, from an expense-scrubbing perspective. But there’s more work to do.”
