~ Letters to the Editor ~

~ Letters to the Editor ~

Saugus Town Meeting Update: School Finance Subcommittee – A Step in the Right Direction!

Dear Editor:
Last Thursday night (March 26) I had the pleasure of attending the School Department Finance Subcommittee meeting, and I left genuinely encouraged by what I saw.
–A Fresh Approach.
In the past, this subcommittee consisted of school committee members, the superintendent and the school finance director. While well-intentioned, that structure often led to reactive conversations driven by budget constraints rather than proactive, forward-thinking planning. That changes now.
The subcommittee now includes parent representatives – and that matters. Getting that community perspective woven into the planning process is exactly the kind of inclusion we need.
What also stood out was Brian Doherty’s clear fit leading this effort. He brings a rare combination to the table: School Committee member, parent, finance professional, AND former Finance Committee member. That last piece is particularly important as the School Department prepares to present and defend their budget before FinComm in the coming weeks. He understands both sides of that table, and that will be invaluable.
–The Roadmap – Why It Matters
Beyond the immediate budget cycle, this subcommittee is committed to developing a 1, 3 and 5-year roadmap for the School Department. This is a game changer. For too long there has been a siloing effect between the School Department, the Town Manager, the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and Town Meeting. Without a clear, well-communicated plan, conversations get stuck on a single dollar figure rather than the full story behind it.
That disconnect has real consequences. Right now there is a $1.5 million gap between what our schools need to simply maintain their current level of service and what the town is offering. Let that sink in – we’re not even talking about growth or improvement yet. We’re talking about standing still.
–My Ask
When I spoke at the meeting, I made a simple but important request: acknowledge that our school leaders are masters of their craft – and then take it one step further. We need to establish a common language and shared context between the School Department, FinComm, the BOS, the Town Manager, and Town Meeting members. Not everyone involved fully understands the complexity of operating a school system, and that knowledge gap fuels the disconnect.
–The Bottom Line
Our schools should be the pride of Saugus – not viewed as an underperforming cost center that isn’t getting the support it needs and deserves. This roadmap and the work being done by this subcommittee is how we begin to change that narrative: building alignment, trust, and a shared vision across town government so that year over year, we can make meaningful progress forward.
I’m cautiously optimistic. The right people are in the room, the right conversations are starting, and the community deserves to know about it. Stay tuned.

Joe DiFilippo
Saugus Town Meeting Member, Precinct 4

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~ Letter to the Editor ~

I am a cheerleader for the strong finances that have been the hallmark of Saugus since 2012

Dear Editor:
They say in Washington, if you want a friend, get a dog. In the shark-infested waters of Saugus politics, I’m not sure even a dog would last; as Mark Twain once noted, “If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.” In Saugus, I suspect the dog would not only bite the hand that fed it but would likely manage to get itself elected to the Board of Selectmen before the week was out.
Political friendships are fickle, but fiscal facts are permanent. While many today are focused on the current budget debate, those of us who have been around since the 1980s remember the truly “dark days” of the early 2000s. In 2006, we were looking at a $6.1 million override just for operations and a $1 million trash fee just to keep the lights on. Our library was decertified, and the Essex Street fire station was in constant flux. At that time, Saugus wasn’t living year by year; we were living crisis by crisis, just waiting for the next one to fall. About 15 years ago, under the previous administration, the town was in such a precarious state that we even needed a one-time debt exclusion just for snow and ice.
In 2012, there was finally hope with the new administration. I know this well because I attended every single Finance Committee meeting and watched methodically as then-Selectman Mike Serino, Scott Crabtree, and others went through the budget line-by-line to satisfy the mandates of Mr. Perry from the Department of Revenue (DOR). At that time, Saugus was essentially at junk bond status, forced to use the Commonwealth’s bond rating just to borrow money. It took five years on a DOR watch list and disciplined, painful stabilization to get the state off our backs.
Look at where Saugus stands today. Since this administration took office, you haven’t seen a single override for operations. Those stabilization funds that were once empty now hold millions. We finally have the “rainy day” protection we never had before.
Sitting in Plymouth now, I see a scary parallel to our old days. Neighbors like Marblehead, Malden, and Melrose are facing major overrides just for operations. Every community in the Commonwealth is facing a financial storm, especially with rising healthcare costs. Saugus has a strong footing heading into that storm; we will fare better than most because of the groundwork laid over the last decade.
I’m not privy to the day-to-day debates for the upcoming Town Meeting, but in this age of slick Facebook posts, TikTok ads, and glossy videos, we must look to the quiet, steady, old-school way of doing things. A solid foundation may not be glamorous, but it is proven, and it works. I don’t say this to be a “cheerleader” for any one administration; I am a cheerleader for the strong finances that have been the hallmark of Saugus since 2012. I wish the town well, and I hope the budget deliberations consider the totality of this success.

Respectfully,
Al DiNardo
Plymouth, MA

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~ Letter to the Editor ~

A Saugus parent wonders: Saugus Has the Resources — Are We Using Them Wisely for Our Schools?

If the Town Manager and the Saugus Board of Selectmen do not correct their school budget recommendation and move it to a level service budget, it sends a clear message to the Saugus community about where our schools fall in terms of priority.
Over the last two budget cycles, the school department has received some of the lowest proportional increases, generally in the range of 2–3 percent. Looking at proportional increases matters because it shows how fast each part of the budget is growing over time, not just how many dollars are added.
At the same time, our town is fiscally strong, with approximately $40 million in stabilization and free cash. Even if an estimated $16 million is set aside for infrastructure, that still leaves roughly $24 million available. Using a small portion of that strategically would not weaken our financial position — it would reflect the flexibility those reserves are meant to provide.
In addition, Chapter 70 aid can be used either to increase school funding or to offset the town’s required contribution. In recent years, it appears that increases have been used more to stabilize the town budget than to expand school funding.
A lack of investment in education has long-term consequences. Strong schools are directly tied to stronger communities, economic stability, and public safety. As the current administration’s plan for Saugus continues to rely on high-density housing as a revenue strategy, the need to invest in our schools becomes even more critical.
A simple and fair solution would be to bridge the approximately $1.7 million gap between the current recommendation and the school department’s request through a targeted use of reserves, paired with a clear and collaborative plan with the School Committee, Board of Selectmen & town manager for sustainable school funding in FY28 and beyond.
The town has invested a significant amount into a new school building, and we should be proud of that. But the job is not finished. We are not properly staffing that investment, and it is impacting our community.
When our education system suffers, so does everything else. It affects home values, it limits economic growth, and it increases long-term pressure on taxpayers. Without diversified revenue streams, we continue to rely on residential growth, which puts additional strain on our schools over time.
As a resident of Precinct 2, I see firsthand how much Cliftondale needs investment and revitalization and the potential it has. We have residents who have already put time and effort into planning what that could look like. That kind of development would bring needed services into our town and generate revenue in a way that strengthens the budget without overburdening taxpayers. And it does not require an outsized investment to begin revitalizing Cliftondale and turning it into a stronger revenue source and a place residents want to spend time.
Growth does not have to mean apartments alone. It can mean building a stronger, more balanced local economy. Strategic investment does not mean draining reserves – it means using them responsibly to move the town forward.
Saugus is a close-knit community full of people who show up for each other. As a newer mom of school aged kids, I’ve seen how much families here care about this town and about our kids collectively.
Our children deserve strong support both at home and in school. They will carry what they learn here into the future of this community.
I encourage residents to reach out to their Town Meeting members and ask them to support a level service school budget for FY27. We have the ability to do better, and it is time to align our budget with the needs of our community.
Thank you for your time.

Sara Petruzzelli
Saugus Resident and Parent, Precinct 2.