As autumn arrives, essential municipal services face strain

From the Beacon, September 2026

September brings a familiar rhythm to Massachusetts. The air turns crisp, municipal fields fill with youth sports leagues, leaves begin to turn, and our communities reopen their school doors to welcome students back for a new academic year.

These unmistakable signs of autumn are more than just seasonal shifts — they are a living demonstration of the vital role that municipal government plays in our everyday lives. From paving the roads that school buses travel on and providing school resource officers, to maintaining public parks, funding classroom instruction, and preserving public safety during fall community events, municipal services form the bedrock of the autumn season.

Behind these cherished traditions and essential operations, however, lies an increasingly difficult reality: Municipal budgets are stretched to their absolute limits. Cities and towns across the Commonwealth are confronting a severe fiscal squeeze driven by persistent inflation, rising healthcare and energy costs, escalating capital project expenses, and escalating demands for local services.

While local leaders work hard to minimize negative impacts caused by tight budgets, the impacts of unavoidable layoffs and service cuts in fiscal 2027 are now being felt by residents in many communities. Some school staff positions went unfilled, for example, and library hours have been curtailed.

Because local budgets rely heavily on property taxes — which are subject to strict legal caps — municipalities have limited tools to generate new revenue to keep pace with these skyrocketing expenses. As a result, maintaining the level of service our residents expect and deserve is becoming more challenging with each passing fiscal year.

In the face of these severe budgetary pressures, the MMA is already laying the groundwork for the road ahead. While fiscal 2028 does not officially begin until next July, the state budget process starts now, as state (and local) leaders begin shaping their fiscal priorities. Throughout the upcoming fall and winter, the MMA will be actively advocating at the State House to ensure local needs are front and center in the fiscal 2028 state budget framework.

Our early advocacy focus will center on the work of the Foundation Budget Review Commission, which will be determining the approach to Chapter 70 school aid now that the Student Opportunity Act has expired, continuing to expand Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) in response to the realities presented in “A Perfect Storm,” and advancing predictable, multi-year Chapter 90 funding for local roads and bridges.

By partnering early with the governor and the Legislature, we can build a stronger foundation for fiscal 2028 that protects essential municipal services and supports our communities through every season.