[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6605166,"mediaKeyId","2987181-8939f303d1060eef5140cfd2d01368b4","parentId",2987181,"title","Finance Committee advances Land Use, Community Services and Recreation budgets; town schedules dedication for Wayne Marquis rail-trail park","audioSeconds",760,"startMs",7843000,"endMs",8603000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987181-8939f303d1060eef5140cfd2d01368b4&start=7843&end=8603","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987181-8939f303d1060eef5140cfd2d01368b4/thumbnail_7843000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6605166/Town-of-Danvers/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Finance-Committee-advances-Land-Use-Community-Services-and-Recreation-budgets-town-schedules-dedication-for-Wayne-Marquis-rail-trail-park","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605166-5c0e0aeea1c643c519ab707649881938/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448507&Signature=PjTfupRZDZvzhGba7hRhfvp-JwIJCssVwOd4xrJt0RtFdHYomgz8VG6Y~eUIp7GDJ8GQzW74WkfHF0MIzwDKTIzYNTERHE82X2zpnMejOzRFNbd6OGBFwQm7Iop~kVDEX4FrdENtOxoNiYk5XkohfeG5hbFkHtkTf5i96JPbllbNe8TGeOUgT8cNAGm7fqxC2-e0BLILJ4ZAuPqkXfHV98cAYWITEL84VObfNMFWW14kLZ43dbgyRI7~ngDXn4jz4UEllg2eTVpmnN6nLNWpmP8w9aL1wfglr8PxNX2sIYHz1Nrh1UGL8DBCNm3InaLtVBhGIKTpJYHgwoVB2gXtPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Danvers, MA","date","2025-04-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Finance Committee reviewed the Land Use and Community Services budgets — inspectional services, public health, planning and economic development, senior and social services, and veterans services — and voted to move the department-level budgets. Committee members then considered the recreation operating budget and approved it.

Inspectional services: The department presented a 7.4% increase overall driven by temporary staffing to address a backlog of periodic inspections. The sealer-and-weights line was reduced to zero after the department purchased new calibration equipment and moved sealing in-house.

Public health: The public-health budget showed a small overall increase (0.72%), driven by contractual obligations for salaries and an operating-expense reduction tied to shifting routine pest-control charges into the public-works budget. The Board of Health is preparing updated body-art (tattoo) regulations in coordination with neighboring communities to harmonize local standards.

Planning and economic development: The planning budget showed a modest increase after trimming low-utilization operating lines as part of townwide balancing measures.

Senior and social services: The department reported a small decrease in salary wages due to turnover and minor operating increases tied to newsletter production and outreach. Committee members clarified language in the packet showing transportation for senior and disabled residents.

Veterans services: The veteran-services budget was level-funded.

Recreation and community events

Recreation Director David Mountain presented a small increase in recreation operating costs (2.75%), driven by contractual salary obligations but offset in part by lower fuel estimates. Mountain announced a dedication event for the new Hobart Street pocket park and rail-trail naming. \"On June 14 we will be having a celebration...we will be dedicating the rail trail and unveiling the new signs,\" Mountain said, inviting the public to a 10 a.m. ceremony followed by a brief reception.

Playground update

Mountain provided an update on the Riverside playground project: the town will accept a $50,000 gift from the parent association and has a $265,000 warrant article for the play structure. If approved, site work and construction are scheduled for July and August so the new playground can open in late summer.

Committee action

The Finance Committee moved the Land Use and Community Services budgets and later moved the recreation budget by voice vote; both motions were recorded as approved.

Speakers quoted in this article include the recreation director David Mountain and department staff who presented the Land Use and Community Services budgets.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Danvers: FY 2026 Finance Committee Budget Review- 4/14/25","oneSentenceSummary","Committee reviewed modest increases across inspectional services, health, planning, senior and veteran services and approved the recreation budget. Recreation director David Mountain announced a June 14 dedication for a pocket park and rail-trail naming honoring Wayne Marquis.","taxTitle","Town of Danvers, Essex County, Massachusetts","taxId",56467,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6605171,"Danvers Public Schools requests $53.97 million for FY26; district highlights special education investments and transportation changes",4626,2729000,7355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987181-8939f303d1060eef5140cfd2d01368b4&start=2729&end=7355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987181-8939f303d1060eef5140cfd2d01368b4/thumbnail_2729000.jpg","/articles/6605171/Town-of-Danvers/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Danvers-Public-Schools-requests-5397-million-for-FY26-district-highlights-special-education-investments-and-transportation-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605171-19e0276bbb4213cd7bcffacb9806a8b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448507&Signature=IRpUHagcajosgimjlpVhlGdXLnkvE4nVZdYe7NcmvMi7JqbC3RW~qxCd33Wcc5sB-Ec3hU3s3hRhLY-b7orB~P6xnNfymqTKvbBLfHkgs7xC~sbN7frSM95WdcQQkW4bLMojXJAnNewh4UTuHQHjOvMnzgOqlzSV7HSmISYLnsYDECWAG7i1WLTIyRgpa9X~5fdZJWlpaQNgqdjKRP3nygUjWCD-ct2VmQH-~~9~Xk5zIKpGzvfYEpPlhew1V71owaEvpMe4GTjdsYjJobRtxkehKMA7c9NbUqAObfKmCf0LGGwh0-t-K6xsLvwUS3NOSaiiDvBs0ssR0KMwA1nh3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Eric, speaking for the School Committee, told the Finance Committee the district is asking for a $53,965,981 operating budget for FY26, a 3.8% increase over the current year.

\"We are, asking for a budget of $53,965,981. It's a 3.8% increase,\" Eric said, introducing the district request before Superintendent Dan Bauer and district staff presented details.

Superintendent Bauer told the committee the budget is intended as \"level service\" and prioritizes sustaining progress in student services — especially special education — while seeking operational efficiencies. He said settling collective-bargaining agreements in the prior year provided certainty for planning. \"The budget process really is year long but really hits hard,\" Bauer said, describing lengthy internal reviews and audits of programming.

Special education and transportation

The district attributed large budgetary pressure to special-education services and related transportation costs. Bauer described steps to \"flatten the curve\" of transportation costs, including purchasing vans for in‑district transport and participating in a regionalized transportation consortium. Bauer said the district added two smaller vans to operate in-district special-education runs and planned to hire additional drivers; he said those vehicles and route changes already generated near-term savings.

Pam Crum (district finance staff) explained circuit-breaker reimbursements and a pending supplemental budget at the state level. She told the committee the district is seeking an increase to transportation reimbursement rates in the state supplemental budget and said the district’s anticipated additional reimbursement is roughly $449,000 if the supplemental budget is approved; she explained that FY25 reimbursements were lower than statutory targets because the state prioritized tuition reimbursements first and then funded transportation out of remaining funds.

Other highlights

- The requested budget includes modest position changes and aims to preserve recent investments in special-education programming, including autism-strand and therapeutic cohorts housed at specific elementary schools.
- District leaders said they have pursued grant funding (more than $200,000 in grant-funded allocations cited) to offset operating costs and to support curricular and pathway development at the high school.
- The district reported efforts to regionalize out-of-district transportation and to consolidate routes; bid results for a consortium contract were reported to be coming in with projected savings of 8–10%.

Finance Committee action

A motion to move the school budget was made and seconded. A voice vote followed; the chair recorded the motion as approved with an \"Aye\" and noted one member absent.

Speakers quoted in this article are Eric (School Committee), Superintendent Dan Bauer and Pam Crum (district finance staff).","The Danvers Public Schools requested a $53,965,981 FY26 operating budget (3.8% increase). Superintendent Dan Bauer and school leaders emphasized maintaining level services, continuing special-education program development, and strategies to reduce rising out-of-district transportation costs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6605175,"Library director touts rising circulation as Finance Committee approves library budget",1263,1436000,2699000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987181-8939f303d1060eef5140cfd2d01368b4&start=1436&end=2699","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987181-8939f303d1060eef5140cfd2d01368b4/thumbnail_1436000.jpg","/articles/6605175/Town-of-Danvers/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Library-director-touts-rising-circulation-as-Finance-Committee-approves-library-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605175-c3cf2edbd982cc0fc6bcf73a1e6b6e58/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448507&Signature=R7DU-7D4CJrYHoUtMBV7xdWwuDMnSFagRya13lzh~bGmpg8H4mLweaTMWniYk3OMYIUvEq9shp51txV6kTzfpNORq8UgQpULBOXBF-4iXm3TQqtoO7A-3yVY4DURcuruXffi1nYz-LbncKspWDrqgbudRPzatvD7926tcadetZGKr6~21Jy84LSb4CM~hRh8sAMkQ8UPMzsmKdduBxO~1wMXDQUCsbUuOLnTUAmzKQRp305GTxRByYgGTFPLwUf11tiQjFEsfyvA2cElUWYB6PhzV~HAwbHeAyLFEmCBkBeUHyAAmPiuQcdMoVb-DhVxag--DL0c4DCZofRbK~I0hQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Noel Buck, director of the Danvers public library, told the Finance Committee the library’s FY26 request is modest and driven primarily by personnel obligations and rising consortium fees while the library continues to show growing circulation and community programs.

\"We don't ask for much, but we do a lot with what we have,\" Noel Buck said, summarizing the library’s approach to programming and services. Buck told the committee circulation has continued to climb since the pandemic and that children’s borrowing is up roughly 63% compared with pre-pandemic levels.

Buck described program priorities that include expanded language collections, new Spanish-language playgroups for children, outreach to assisted-living facilities and motels, expanded community art shows, and grants to improve access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Buck also noted the library uses state aid and trust-fund money to support most programming.

The library director said staffing remains adequate for core operations but that the archives and community-outreach work would benefit from additional hours; she said the ICAVA archives operation is currently open roughly three days a week as staff availability allows. Buck confirmed temporary and part-time lines in the library budget are used for seasonal and non–full-time duties and that a single part-time bookkeeper position is budgeted separately from general temporary wages.

Finance Committee action and context

A motion to move the library budget was made and seconded; the Finance Committee chair called for a voice vote and members responded \"Aye.\" The meeting minutes record the motion as approved.

Speakers quoted in this article are Noel Buck (Library Director) and Rodney (Interim Town Manager), who participated in the overview preceding the library presentation.","Library Director Noel Buck presented a modest FY26 request focused on salary obligations, membership fees and continued program growth; the Finance Committee moved the library budget with an aye vote.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6605180,"Danvers interim manager outlines FY26 budget pressures, one-time revenues and reserves",1414,2000,1416000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2987181-8939f303d1060eef5140cfd2d01368b4&start=2&end=1416","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2987181-8939f303d1060eef5140cfd2d01368b4/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/6605180/Town-of-Danvers/Essex-County/Massachusetts/Danvers-interim-manager-outlines-FY26-budget-pressures-one-time-revenues-and-reserves","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6605180-394d83ed2fc482d3e40c56391ead3ab0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448507&Signature=jiTjhFWhrzJaxYuXRP1fW4Jwvi4ZZm50uz-BaBH29gzKLxCSirULQ3-IdVNDAm-aMO0fkhaDlMpgpntdDbFsXbrfoLN~8Q1BR3UY5LvD-Ol5loK6qHrxYsmeQ~sT5lDbBp-sXB9PemB-mC2DO3YdsNdjRhsP-JWTbaFMSeMHn1iwv8JbjmY1qEFinYhuRU8-WkDz11Lewd7WYGAQrsnK9AllqsTUK5MiLd4ml61Mxe47zG0kYdP8ZyOgdRjNuyvE-CPI73h5rRNiJwuoDR~vHBUmVMTdN1L5mrP0nYFqaHmzyNa9UTHUQeZmo1CenOyH6Bfch2x6o7GZc0roWHfRPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Interim Town Manager Rodney told the Finance Committee the town’s proposed FY26 budget must absorb rising health care costs, increased school assessments and higher retirement contributions while relying on unusually strong one-time revenues and certified free cash to balance the plan.

Rodney opened the presentation by noting Danvers remains comparatively affordable among nearby benchmark communities, but said persistent budget pressures outpace the town’s new growth and Proposition 2½ capacity. “Our renewal rate was a 10.91%,” Rodney said of the town’s health insurance renewal, adding the increase translated to “a $1,450,000 increase year over year.”

The presentation said Danvers expects roughly $3.0 million in new levy capacity from Proposition 2½ and conservative new-growth estimates, while the primary budget pressures identified for FY26 include: an increase in the town retirement contribution tied to actuarial assumptions, the health-insurance renewal, a 3.8% school request and a roughly 4.09% assessment increase from Essex Technical High School.

Why it matters: The town has certified an unusually large free cash balance — Rodney called it “probably historic at $13,870,000” — and officials are proposing to use portions of that amount to shore up reserves and fund one-time capital. Rodney said removing identified one-time items (notably landfill proceeds and elevated investment income) brings the recurring reserve closer to the Department of Revenue best-practice target of 3–5% of net general fund revenue.

Key details and tradeoffs

- Free cash and one-time revenue: The manager’s slides show $13,870,000 in certified free cash for FY24. Rodney said $3,800,000 of that was unanticipated revenue tied to the landfill project and that investment income exceeded projections by “over $2,500,000” (the presentation also cited a $3,000,000 investment-income figure for FY24). Rodney and staff said they are recommending using portions of free cash for debt stabilization ($5,000,000 recommended contribution), general stabilization ($1,000,000 recommended contribution) and capital needs.

- Recurring cost pressures: Danvers Public Schools asked for a 3.8% increase (the presentation quantified the schools’ request as roughly $1,980,000 year over year). The manager said Essex Tech’s assessment rose about 4.09% and called the insurance renewal the single largest driver in the town budget.

- Retirement funding: Rodney said the town budgets to increase its retirement contribution by roughly 8% annually to meet an assumed funding target and that the assumed investment return for the pension valuation has recently been reduced to 7%.

- Reserves and caution: Rodney warned against overrelying on investment income and other volatile revenue sources. “If you back both of those numbers out, you get roughly a little over $7,000,000 which again would be close to our target of 3% to 5%,” he said, noting the town wants to preserve capacity to handle future downturns.

Select-board goals and staffing

Rodney reviewed three select-board priorities embedded in the FY26 plan: maintain staffing and services while transitioning to a new town manager; ensure public-safety staffing and emergency-services funding (the FY26 proposal includes funding for one additional police officer and absorption of three former SAFER grant-funded firefighters into the levy); and provide resources to Danvers Public Schools, including support for special-education services.

Questions from Finance Committee members focused on the one-year health-insurance renewal cadence, the pension discount-rate assumption and the sustainability of relying on the large free-cash balance. In response to a question about how much of the current free cash came from ongoing versus one-time sources, Rodney reiterated the landfill and investment gains were one-time and said staff was conservative in projecting long-term recurring revenues.

What’s next

Rodney said the Finance Committee will continue department-level hearings and return for a warrant review before Town Meeting, which the presentation listed as May 19. Finance Committee deliberations and warrant decisions will determine how much of the recommended stabilization contributions and one-time capital are presented to voters.

Speakers quoted in this article are Interim Town Manager Rodney and Select Board member Mike Bean, both of whom spoke while the Finance Committee reviewed the townwide budget overview.","Interim Town Manager Rodney told the Finance Committee the FY26 budget faces rising health insurance and school assessment costs, while a large certified free cash balance and one-time landfill and investment gains give the town room to reinforce reserves and fund capital.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Finance Committee advances Land Use, Community Services and Recreation budgets; town schedules dedication for Wayne Marquis rail-trail park

Danvers Public Schools requests $53.97 million for FY26; district highlights special education investments and transportation changes

Library director touts rising circulation as Finance Committee approves library budget

Danvers interim manager outlines FY26 budget pressures, one-time revenues and reserves