Hingham Finance Committee Approves $5 Million Water Main Borrowing Along Route 3A

HINGHAM -- February 10, 2026, Hingham Finance Committee unanimously approves $5 million water main borrowing and defers reserve fund vote as out-of-district special education costs could exceed $1.3 million. The committee voted unanimously at its February 10 meeting to recommend a $5 million borrowing authorization for the Weir River Water System to replace 9,650 linear feet of aging water main along Route 3A before the state road project begins, with projected annual debt service of approximately $21 per ratepayer already embedded in a proposed 3 percent rate increase. A separate unanimous vote recommended a $178,836 transfer from the town's bond premium stabilization fund to reduce fiscal 2027 debt service. The committee deferred action on Article K, the annual reserve fund transfer, after members said they lacked sufficient documentation to vouch for out-of-district special education costs being modeled at roughly $1.3 million for fiscal 2026 and $2.1 million for fiscal 2027 under the town's MOU with the school department. "I couldn't vote yes, because I don't have the information to vouch," said member Mary. The committee also discussed a legal memo concluding that the MOU's spending caps expire after fiscal 2027, with new MOU negotiations expected to begin in summer 2026.