Advisory and Select Board Joint Meeting // June 11, 2026

This joint meeting of the Advisory and Select Boards of Marshfield, held on June 11, 2026, focused extensively on the town's fiscal challenges and budgetary planning for fiscal year 2027. Key procurement-related discussions included the approval of budget transfers (Article 2) to cover departmental shortfalls, with particular attention to recurring expenses improperly funded by free cash, such as IT software support and fire department contracts. The boards reviewed the capital budget (Article 4), with $1.4 million allocated from free cash and repurposed funds for various projects, while deferring a $450,000 ocean bluff riprap project to the fall meeting. Enterprise fund budgets for water, wastewater, and solid waste were also discussed, highlighting the use of retained earnings to offset rate increases. The Advisory Board recommended a $3.1 million override budget (Article 3B) after detailed line-item reviews and consultations with department heads, especially the school superintendent, who emphasized the severity of proposed cuts. The meeting included concerns about the legality of adding a $7 million override budget (Article 3C) without a properly advertised public hearing, with public comments urging adherence to charter requirements. The boards also discussed the need for improved multi-year capital planning and better management of recurring expenses to avoid overreliance on free cash. Motions to approve the advisory board minutes and the capital budget plan were passed unanimously.