Our general government category is wide and varied and includes many public facing sectors.  These functions are critical to the Town’s identity.  The proposed override will maintain our ability to provide services in support of economic development, affordable housing, sustainability, our new Climate Action Plan, our regulatory processes, and the many elected and appointed volunteers in Town.  Economic development is important to the Town’s long-term financial stability.

Hingham is proud of our first responders and recognizes the lifesaving work they do every day.  The proposed override will allow us to maintain the Police and Fire Departments’ current levels of effectiveness and support of School Resources Officers, DARE program, CPR instruction, youth relations and community policing initiatives.  The override also allows for the continued focus on modern public safety services, including a community crisis clinician.  Additionally, the override will help staff the Fire Department appropriately – and reduce the need for forced double shifts and excessive overtime costs.

Our Public Works team takes great pride in keeping Hingham safe, functional, and beautiful.  The override will allow us to maintain our current conditions including harbor clean up, field mowing, tree planting, filling potholes, street line painting, and general maintenance of public grounds.  The override will also add engineering capacity to ensure our infrastructure remains functional and resilient.

Hingham’s Human Services team has become increasingly vital to the health and wellbeing of the community.  The override will allow us to continue to support our community’s health, wellness, and mental health needs.  The override will also ensure continued transportation services and support expanded programming for our fast-growing senior population while also adding capacity to support the changing needs of our veterans.

In many ways, Hingham’s culture and recreation programming is where the Town most directly interacts with our citizenry.  In this sector, the override will allow us to continue our new fields maintenance program, keep the Hingham Public Library open on its regular schedule, and continue to provide meaningful public ceremonies for important events such as Memorial and Veterans Day.

The Town’s Financial Policy reminds us that “we are the current caretakers” of this wonderful community.  The policy further suggests that the appropriate funding level for capital investment should be between 3-6% of the Town’s operating budget.  The override would ensure that we are in compliance with our policy and give the Town the resources needed to maintain our buildings, vehicles and equipment.