Harwich officials are sounding the alarm over a projected double-digit surge in education spending as the Finance Committee moves to finalize its recommendations for the upcoming Town Meeting. During a session at Town Hall on Thursday, member Mark Peterson flagged a sharp upward trend in the Monomoy Regional School District’s financial outlook, noting that the per-student cost was projected to increase by 10-11% for the next fiscal year.

The warning comes as the town faces a $1.6 million assessment hike from the district, a 5.4% increase that persists despite school officials utilizing a record $1 million from Excess and Deficiency reserves to mitigate the impact. The per-pupil cost spike is particularly significant for Harwich, which operates under an assessment formula requiring the town to pay 100% of its own elementary school costs. Member Dana DeCosta has previously characterized these escalating assessments as a threat to the town’s financial health, suggesting they could destroy the municipality if the district does not find more sustainable ways to utilize its reserves.

Beyond the classroom, the committee is navigating a complex municipal budget further complicated by a reporting error. Chair Robert MacCready recently identified a potential mechanical discrepancy of approximately $500,000 between town financial reports. The error reportedly stems from how Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) are calculated on top of health insurance totals within the Munis accounting system. While the Town Administrator’s office works to reconcile those figures, the committee is also budgeting for a 10% spike in property and liability insurance premiums for the coming year.

The discussion regarding school costs arose during the committee’s look at previous meeting records. Acting as chair for the opening segment, Peter Hughes noted that the first order of business is approving the minutes of Thursday, referring to the February 27 session where the school budget was first presented. Motion Made by P. Hughes to approve the minutes of February 27, 2025. While the committee moved forward with the meeting records, members such as Scott Norum and Mark Ameres continued their broader scrutiny of department drivers, including a 6% rise in fire department salaries and shifting staffing models.

The committee is now shifting its focus toward infrastructure and utility costs. Water/Wastewater Superintendent Jason Trepanier, Controller Sandy Seager, and Commissioner Noreen Donahue were in attendance to begin the review of the enterprise fund budgets. With the March 31 deadline for written warrant recommendations approaching, the committee must still reconcile a nearly $1 million gap between the school district’s reduced staff level service budget and the funding placeholders currently set by the Town Administrator.