{
  "name": "Marblehead Fiscal Dashboard",
  "url": "https://01945.town",
  "description": "Independent financial transparency dashboard for the Town of Marblehead, MA. Every number backed by audited public records.",
  "last_updated": "2026-04-12",
  "data_sources": [
    {
      "document": "FY2024 ACFR",
      "url": "https://marbleheadma.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FY24-Town-of-Marblehead-ACFR.pdf",
      "fiscal_year_ended": "June 30, 2024",
      "auditor": "Roselli, Clark & Associates, CPAs",
      "opinion": "Unmodified"
    },
    {
      "document": "FY2026 Finance Committee Report",
      "url": "https://marbleheadma.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2026-Annual-Town-Meeting-Finance-Committee-Annual-Report.pdf",
      "town_meeting_date": "May 5, 2025"
    },
    {
      "document": "FY2027 Budget (Select Board approved 4-1, March 27, 2026)",
      "url": "https://marbleheadma.gov/finance-committee/",
      "notes": "Select Board 4-1 March 27; Finance Committee March 28; Town Meeting May 4, 2026; Override vote June 16, 2026"
    },
    {
      "document": "S&P Global Ratings — AAA Affirmed, Outlook Negative (April 10, 2026)",
      "url": "https://www.marbleheadindependent.com/s-p-affirms-marbleheads-aaa-bond-rating-shifts-outlook-to-negative/",
      "notes": "AAA affirmed on ~$26.26M in new bonds. Outlook changed from stable to negative because of a built-in gap between income and spending."
    }
  ],
  "fiscal_year_displayed": 2024,
  "headline_fiscal_year": 2027,
  "ui_structure": {
    "navigation": "tab-based (home, budget, tools, explore)",
    "tabs": [
      {
        "id": "home",
        "label": "Home",
        "description": "FY2027 at a glance, override banner, and explore grid"
      },
      {
        "id": "budget",
        "label": "Budget",
        "sections": [
          "Spending by Category (10 categories)",
          "Revenue Sources (5 sources)",
          "Revenue vs Expense Trend (FY2019-2027)",
          "Costs Growing Fast (6 items)"
        ]
      },
      {
        "id": "tools",
        "label": "Tools",
        "sections": [
          "Override Calculator (3-part)",
          "Tax Bill Calculator"
        ]
      },
      {
        "id": "more",
        "label": "Explore",
        "sections": [
          "Fiscal Health (15 checks)",
          "Peer Comparison",
          "Town Meeting Guide",
          "Budget News",
          "Sources & Data",
          "Corrections",
          "Editorial Log"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "design_system": {
      "fonts": [
        "Libre Franklin",
        "IBM Plex Mono",
        "Georgia (headings)"
      ],
      "primary": "#1B4965",
      "accent": "#3D7EAA",
      "pass": "#27AE60",
      "warn": "#D4A843",
      "fail": "#C0392B",
      "style": "inline CSS with var(--t-*) custom properties",
      "mobile_first": true,
      "min_width": 375
    }
  },
  "budget_data": {
    "metadata": {
      "extracted_from": [
        {
          "document": "FY2024 ACFR",
          "url": "https://marbleheadma.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FY24-Town-of-Marblehead-ACFR.pdf",
          "fiscal_year_ended": "June 30, 2024",
          "auditor": "Roselli, Clark & Associates, CPAs",
          "opinion": "Unmodified"
        },
        {
          "document": "FY2026 Finance Committee Report",
          "url": "https://marbleheadma.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2026-Annual-Town-Meeting-Finance-Committee-Annual-Report.pdf",
          "town_meeting_date": "May 5, 2025"
        },
        {
          "document": "FY2027 Budget (Select Board approved 4-1, March 27, 2026)",
          "url": "https://marbleheadma.gov/finance-committee/",
          "notes": "Select Board 4-1 March 27; Finance Committee March 28; Town Meeting May 4, 2026; Override vote June 16, 2026"
        },
        {
          "document": "S&P Global Ratings — AAA Affirmed, Outlook Negative (April 10, 2026)",
          "url": "https://www.marbleheadindependent.com/s-p-affirms-marbleheads-aaa-bond-rating-shifts-outlook-to-negative/",
          "notes": "AAA affirmed on ~$26.26M in new bonds. Outlook changed from stable to negative because of a built-in gap between income and spending."
        }
      ],
      "extraction_date": "2026-04-12",
      "notes": "Spending categories come from the Finance Committee's budget presentation, checked against the town's annual audit (ACFR). They don't match any single ACFR table exactly. The Finance Committee regroups the numbers to make them easier for voters to understand. For example, the ACFR lists Education at $69.6M town-wide, but that includes ~$18M in state pension payments. The dashboard uses the local cost (~$44.2M). The total ($106.3M) closely matches the ACFR town-wide total ($106.7M). Revenue sources are FY2024 general fund. Trend data uses general fund figures. Headline figures (key_facts) are from the FY2027 budget approved March 27, 2026. The FY2025 audit is not yet published. Amounts are in millions of dollars unless noted. Town profile figures are from the FY2024 audit unless noted otherwise."
    },
    "budget_items": [
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "category": "Education",
        "amount_actual": 44.2,
        "percentage": 41.6,
        "description": "School operating budget including salaries, supplies, transportation, and tuition for students placed in other districts.",
        "why_it_matters": "This is the single biggest spending category. The FY2027 school budget is set at $47.6M after $1.5M in cuts and 22 jobs eliminated. The School Committee has backed a 3-year voter-approved tax increase (called an 'override') of up to $8.5M to restore services.",
        "source_document": "FY2024 ACFR / FY2026 Finance Committee Report Art. 22 (cross-referenced); FY2027 School Budget (School Committee vote April 9-10, 2026; Marblehead Current, Independent, ItemLive)"
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "category": "Public Safety",
        "amount_actual": 16.8,
        "percentage": 15.8,
        "description": "Police, Fire, EMS, emergency management, and building inspections.",
        "why_it_matters": "Union contracts (MASS C.O.P. Local 437, Fire Local 2043) are the main costs growing fast here. The FY2027 town budget includes cuts across public safety as part of 18-20 town-side job cuts.",
        "source_document": "FY2024 ACFR; FY2027 Select Board Budget (March 27, 2026)"
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "category": "Benefits & Insurance",
        "amount_actual": 14.1,
        "percentage": 13.3,
        "description": "Employee health insurance, workers comp, unemployment, and Medicare.",
        "why_it_matters": "The state health plan (GIC) rate went up 11.17% for current workers in FY2027. The Finance Director expects mid-teens increases ahead. The private market is seeing 23-26% hikes. This cost grows much faster than the town's ~2% income growth.",
        "source_document": "FY2026 Finance Committee Report; FY2024 ACFR (Fringe Benefits); Marblehead Independent (GIC rates, 2026)"
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "category": "Pension",
        "amount_actual": 8.9,
        "percentage": 8.4,
        "description": "Required annual payment into the town's retirement fund.",
        "why_it_matters": "This bill rises ~8-9% every year under a fixed payment plan set by law. The pension system is ~70% funded, with a $54M gap between what's owed and what's saved (about $2,600 per person). Retiree health benefits are owed at $147M but only 3.37% funded — in the bottom quarter of MA towns.",
        "source_document": "FY2024 ACFR (Note on Pension); FY2026 Finance Committee Report; S&P Global (April 2026)"
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "category": "Public Works",
        "amount_actual": 6.2,
        "percentage": 5.8,
        "description": "Roads, snow removal, trees, engineering, and DPW operations.",
        "why_it_matters": "The town maintains 14 miles of seacoast. The FY2027 DPW budget faces cuts as part of the $56.6M town-side spending plan.",
        "source_document": "FY2024 ACFR; FY2027 Select Board Budget (March 27, 2026)"
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "category": "Debt Service",
        "amount_actual": 5.8,
        "percentage": 5.5,
        "description": "Payments on long-term bonds (principal and interest).",
        "why_it_matters": "The AAA bond rating (17 years in a row) keeps borrowing costs low. However, S&P changed the outlook to negative on April 10, 2026. With a new $26.26M bond issue, total debt is now ~$127M (about $6,200 per person).",
        "source_document": "FY2024 ACFR; S&P Global Ratings (April 10, 2026)"
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "category": "General Government",
        "amount_actual": 4.5,
        "percentage": 4.2,
        "description": "Select Board, Town Admin, Finance, Assessors, Legal, and IT.",
        "why_it_matters": "Includes the switch to Munis financial software from ClearGov (went live July 1, 2025). FY2027 cuts affect office staff across multiple departments.",
        "source_document": "FY2024 ACFR; FY2027 Select Board Budget (March 27, 2026)"
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "category": "Culture & Recreation",
        "amount_actual": 2.8,
        "percentage": 2.6,
        "description": "Library, Recreation & Parks, Council on Aging, and Veterans services.",
        "why_it_matters": "Abbot Public Library could close or lose its state certification if the FY2027 override fails. Staff cuts would reach ~50%. CBS Boston and the Boston Globe have covered this story.",
        "source_document": "FY2024 ACFR; FY2027 Select Board Budget (March 27, 2026); Boston Globe (March 2026)"
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "category": "Sanitation",
        "amount_actual": 1.9,
        "percentage": 1.8,
        "description": "Trash collection, recycling, and the transfer station.",
        "why_it_matters": "IMPORTANT: The old trash contract ended after FY2026. The new one costs ~60% more (~$900K-$1M extra per year). If the $2.3M trash override fails on June 16, the Board of Health will charge each household $262-281 per year. The Health Dept estimates $281 if 3% of homes opt out.",
        "source_document": "FY2027 Select Board Budget; Marblehead Current (March 25, 2026); Marblehead Independent (March 2026)"
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "category": "Other / Reserves",
        "amount_actual": 1.1,
        "percentage": 1,
        "description": "Reserve Fund, the town's rainy-day savings, and energy/utility reserves.",
        "why_it_matters": "The rainy-day fund is still at ~0.5% of the operating budget — among the lowest in MA. The state (MA DLS) recommends 5%. The Town Administrator wants to rely less on leftover money from last year (called 'free cash'). FY2027 targets ~$5M in free cash use, down from $7M in FY2026.",
        "source_document": "FY2026 Finance Committee Report Art. 18, 27; Marblehead Independent (January 2026)"
      }
    ],
    "revenue_sources": [
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "source_name": "Property Tax",
        "amount": 82.8,
        "percentage": 78
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "source_name": "State Aid",
        "amount": 8.5,
        "percentage": 8
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "source_name": "Local Receipts",
        "amount": 8.2,
        "percentage": 7.7
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "source_name": "Free Cash Used",
        "amount": 7,
        "percentage": 6.6
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "source_name": "Electric Surplus",
        "amount": 0.36,
        "percentage": 0.3
      }
    ],
    "revenue_vs_expense_trend": [
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2019,
        "revenue": 86.2,
        "expenses": 84.8
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2020,
        "revenue": 89.1,
        "expenses": 87.4
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2021,
        "revenue": 92.3,
        "expenses": 90.1
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2022,
        "revenue": 95.8,
        "expenses": 94.2
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2023,
        "revenue": 99.5,
        "expenses": 98
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2024,
        "revenue": 103.5,
        "expenses": 101.8
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2025,
        "revenue": 103.3,
        "expenses": 104,
        "is_projection": true
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2026,
        "revenue": 103.3,
        "expenses": 108,
        "is_projection": true
      },
      {
        "fiscal_year": 2027,
        "revenue": 101,
        "expenses": 104.2,
        "is_projection": true
      }
    ],
    "cost_drivers": [
      {
        "driver": "Salaries & Wages",
        "annual_rate_low": 0.045,
        "annual_rate_high": 0.055,
        "severity": "elevated",
        "detail": "Union contracts go up over time (~3% base plus steps and seniority pay). The FY2027 budget includes 35-40 job cuts across town and schools. Staff pay is ~80% of total spending."
      },
      {
        "driver": "Health Insurance",
        "annual_rate_low": 0.09,
        "annual_rate_high": 0.15,
        "severity": "critical",
        "detail": "The state health plan (GIC) average increase is 7.5% for FY2027 after benefit changes (dropped GLP-1 drug coverage). Before those changes, estimates ranged 9-13%. The Finance Director projected mid-teens. The private market is seeing 23-26% hikes. Expect double-digit increases for 2-3 years. (Sources: Mass.gov GIC rates; Marblehead Independent)"
      },
      {
        "driver": "Pension Assessment",
        "annual_rate_low": 0.08,
        "annual_rate_high": 0.09,
        "severity": "elevated",
        "detail": "Follows a fixed payment plan set by law. The system is ~70% funded with a $54M gap between what's owed and what's saved (about $2,600 per person). Retiree health benefits are owed at $147M but only 3.37% funded."
      },
      {
        "driver": "Energy & Utilities",
        "annual_rate_low": 0.04,
        "annual_rate_high": 0.05,
        "severity": "elevated",
        "detail": "The town keeps energy/utility reserves to handle price swings. This practice has been in place since FY2007/FY2017."
      },
      {
        "driver": "Trash Collection",
        "annual_rate_low": 0.04,
        "annual_rate_high": 0.04,
        "severity": "critical",
        "detail": "ONE-TIME SPIKE: The old contract ended and the new one costs ~60% more (~$900K-$1M extra). After that, costs rise ~4% per year. A $2.3M trash override is on the June 16 ballot. If it fails, each household will pay about $281 per year for trash pickup (Health Dept estimate, assuming 3% opt-out)."
      },
      {
        "driver": "Out-of-District Tuition",
        "annual_rate_low": 0.04,
        "annual_rate_high": 0.05,
        "severity": "elevated",
        "detail": "The state approves annual increases. Special education rules require certain student placements that drive up costs. The school budget absorbed a $3.1M gap using reserves."
      }
    ],
    "key_facts": [
      {
        "label": "Total Budget (FY27)",
        "value": "$122.7M",
        "subtitle": "About $6,000 per household. Select Board approved 4-1 on March 27, 2026.",
        "highlight": "normal"
      },
      {
        "label": "Budget Gap (FY27)",
        "value": "$7.7M",
        "subtitle": "About $380 per household. 35-40 job cuts; 3-part override vote June 16.",
        "highlight": "critical"
      },
      {
        "label": "Avg Tax Bill (FY26)",
        "value": "$11,094",
        "subtitle": "Based on the average home value (~$1.29M). Rate: $8.59 for every $1,000 your home is worth (down 46 cents from FY25).",
        "highlight": "normal"
      },
      {
        "label": "Rainy-Day Fund",
        "value": "~0.5%",
        "subtitle": "State recommends 5% — Marblehead is among the lowest in MA",
        "highlight": "warning"
      },
      {
        "label": "Bond Rating",
        "value": "AAA",
        "subtitle": "17 years running. S&P outlook changed to negative April 10, 2026.",
        "highlight": "warning"
      },
      {
        "label": "Free Cash Certified",
        "value": "$9.5M",
        "subtitle": "$7M used in FY26. Targeting ~$5M for FY27.",
        "highlight": "normal"
      }
    ],
    "town_profile": {
      "population": 20576,
      "land_area_sq_miles": 4.53,
      "seacoast_miles": 14,
      "government_type": "Select Board / Open Town Meeting / Town Administrator",
      "median_single_family_assessment": 1010100,
      "average_single_family_assessment": 1291000,
      "tax_rate_per_thousand": 8.59,
      "tax_rate_fy2024_acfr": 8.96,
      "residential_pct_of_levy": 96.5,
      "single_family_dwellings": 6240,
      "condominiums": 1000,
      "properties_built_before_1950_pct": 53,
      "property_tax_collection_rate_pct": 97,
      "outstanding_governmental_debt": 127000000,
      "outstanding_short_term_debt": 2300000,
      "total_assessed_value": 9890000000,
      "pension_funded_pct": 70,
      "pension_unfunded_liability": 54000000,
      "pension_total_liability": 178632000,
      "opeb_liability": 147000000,
      "opeb_funded_pct": 3,
      "town_meeting_date": "2026-05-04",
      "override_election_date": "2026-06-16"
    }
  },
  "fiscal_health": {
    "checks": 20,
    "overall": "fail",
    "summary": "2 critical issues, 9 warnings, 9 passing",
    "critical": [
      "Rainy-day fund at 0.5% vs 5% state target",
      "Trash collection cost spike ~60%"
    ],
    "warnings": [
      "Debt per person above MA median",
      "Health insurance rising 11-15% per year",
      "Spending growing faster than income",
      "Spending was higher than income in 2 of the last 3 years",
      "Tax collection rate (97%) near the minimum safe level",
      "Relies on leftover savings for 6.6% of the budget",
      "Several costs are growing faster than income"
    ]
  },
  "technology": {
    "frontend": "Vite + React + TypeScript",
    "backend": "PocketBase (SQLite)",
    "hosting": "Cloudflare Pages + Fly.io",
    "workers": "Cloudflare Workers",
    "ai": "Anthropic Claude API"
  }
}