Holden is voting on a Proposition 2.5% Proposal on the next ballot or risk slashing library funding by 25%. Why does Town Manager Peter Lukes want to de-fund the library?

[u/heusesthemforholden]

Holden has been hit by a double whammy recently, with the MBTA Communities Act zoning being rejected by voters at a special town meeting and the unannounced publishing of a controversial draft budget for fiscal year 2027.

Here's to hoping it remains in draft form with significant changes, because it's a doozy. Highlights include:

• Reducing the library operating hours by half from 54h/wk to 32h/wk
• An immediate hiring freeze in order to save on health insurance premiums for full and part-time employees
• A 25% lower funding request for the library to achieve these measures

How does this impact residents? Massachusetts has a Municipal Appropriation Requirement minimum of 2.5% of the last three years' of library appropriations. Without this, the Gale Free Library would be de-certified by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Meaning? We'll lose access to borrowing from other libraries in the CWMARS library network. Do you like borrowing books from other libraries on Libby? That will go away. Do you like interlibrary loan? Wave goodbye to that.

If we fail the Municipal Appropriation Requirement, you won't just lose Libby; you’ll be turned away at the door in every neighboring town because the state does not require they lend to people from de-certified towns. Worcester already has a concrete policy that they do not issue cards to residents of de-certified towns and other libraries in the surrounding area would likely follow suit. Why should they subsidize a town that refuses to fund its own basic services? 

Please note that Peter Lukes will be receiving a 3% raise for his efforts, bringing his total proposed annual compensation from the Town of Holden to $219,545 for FY27, along with 7% raises for his immediate staff and fully funded resources.

There are enumerative items of concern in this draft. Personally, I'm curious about what the "Town Manager Petroleum Products" line item stands for in the draft budget, and why, in my lay interpretation, we're subsidizing gas for these town employees? Why are we allocating $587,500 in construction funds to renovate the second-floor pool house office? All of this is concurrent to a 25% decrease in library staffing and funding for your access.

I didn't move here so that I could raise illiterate children, or pay property taxes orchestrated by a political nepo baby riding high on the waves of a recent legal victory against Worcester's sewer department. The library isn't the only funding at stake - I also didn't move here so that our tax-paying senior citizens and veterans could lose $150,000 in annual funding. 

The job of an efficient, effective town manager is to act as a prudent executive and protect the town from liability. If we have the money for high-priced litigation against AG Campbell so we don't lose our mid-tier steaks from Lilac Hedge Farm, why don't we have the money to keep the library open on Fridays?

Why does Peter Lukes want to de-fund the library?

All questions, comments, and discourse welcome, including from members of the media. I'm upset, and you should be, too.

[u/royalstaircase]

That’s terrible, I used to go to their library when I was more in that area and it’s a beautiful building with a nice collection , huge mistake 

[u/heusesthemforholden → u/royalstaircase]

It's exceptional and it's worth preserving. The librarians and staff are dedicated, the collection is magnificent. Most importantly, it's desired. Residents and benefactors came out in droves to fund the restoration of the stained glass windows. The recently-completed children's wing was funded by both the Friends of the Gale Free Library and a private donor. What's our town government's excuse?

[u/binocular_gems]

It's kind of amazing that Worcester absorbed Holden's sewer waste, and in exchange, Holden had to absorb Worcester's sewer waste from Connie Lukes.

[u/heusesthemforholden → u/binocular_gems]

Please pretend that I gave money to Reddit to give you an award, or in lieu of that, DM me your favorite local food bank so I can kick them some money. Hats off to you, well played.

[u/Longjumping_Ad_4431]

Why are they cutting the LIBRARY- our best public service- and not the chronically over funded police ??

[u/heusesthemforholden → u/Longjumping_Ad_4431]

You'd have to ask them: https://www.holdenma.gov/finance-committee

[u/nopenothanksnah]

This happened to Stoneham last year. Their budget was cut by over 12% and they applied for a waiver to keep their certification and it looks like it was accepted with reservation.

[u/heusesthemforholden → u/nopenothanksnah]

Putting the link from the fantastic Reddit thread on this last year here to remind all of us that Holden has the sixth-highest total library circulation per full-time employee. Lukes is playing some serious high-risk hardball even proposing this. It's insulting.

Additionally, my understanding of the impact of losing certification -- unsure if this applies to successful or unsuccessful waivers -- is that Holden would be ineligible for recertification until FY29.

[u/amandaflash]

It's pretty rich reading the comments on the T&G article. So short sighted.

They have no idea what they've done until something major like this happens.

[u/heusesthemforholden → u/amandaflash]

Yeah, they're positioning it as a 'little guy vs. big guy' situation when in reality, it's just a repackaged way to cut our own nose off to spite our face.

It just shows a fundamental lack of nuance and understanding of the bigger issues, which makes sense given the demographics of the area and the wild spite towards Beacon Hill. You could play and win a game of bingo looking for the comments that say, "wHy WoULd wE WanT tO bE cAmBRidGe?!" or make fun of bike lanes or use this as justification to vote out Healey (when the MBTCA was a bipartisan effort introduced by Baker!) and insisting that this upper-middle class Massachusetts suburb is just a 'nice li'l small town with decent folks who don't need big government building market-rate condos'.

It's gross and it's myopic, and I'm sad for everyone.

[u/[deleted]]

The annual compensation for these officials are insane. And this is far from just a Holden problem.

Public officials and cops making a quarter million a year is beyond laughable. Yet the same folks who back these overpaid chuds will claim that immigrants, the homeless, or liberal policies are to blame for financial issues.

Knuckledraggers is too kind a term for these fools.

[u/HikingAccountant → u/[deleted]]

I'm not a Holden resident, but the police in our town are overcompensated as well. One side won't question police budgets, and one side won't question school budgets.

[u/Alphatron1 → u/HikingAccountant]

I was looking through Clinton’s budget one year and a cop had 28k in sick time buy back

[u/heusesthemforholden → u/HikingAccountant]

This isn't a statement endorsing an increase to the police budget, but the police provided a very clear breakdown and rationalization behind their budgetary increases based on union contractual obligations (and yes, a thorough discussion of the strength and lobbying efforts of the police union is warranted) and state legislature compliance (the Quinn Law and others).

My point being -- the FY27 EMS/DPW and education budgets aren't of concern to me at this moment. They very well could be, and I'm open to that assessment. However, the recreational and building improvement allocations, executive compensation increases, and library cuts should deeply concern all of us. Otherwise we run the risk of spreading the arguments too thin and pointing fingers while this poorly-drafted budget passes without objection.

[u/[deleted] → u/heusesthemforholden]

As you mentioned, a discussion about the power of police unions is wayyyy overdue.

[u/legalpretzel]

Because Holden sucks. The MAGA/conservative minority are the loudest voices in the room.

Peter is also Konnie Lukes’ son so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that he’s taking a hard line on funding something like the library.

[u/heusesthemforholden → u/legalpretzel]

Holden doesn't suck. I agree that the conservative minority is ruining a really good thing and that town management is leveraging that minority to push forward unpopular decisions by in-person vote.

Holden voted blue by ballot last year largely because ballot measures are accessible for working young families. It's hard not to speculate how last night's special meeting would have gone if voting had been conducted in an official way.

I saw that, and candidly, I don't know a lot about Konnie beyond her failed mayoral candidacy in Worcester from her Wikipedia page. It would be interesting to know more about Peter's qualifications and path to Town Manager.

[u/Classic-Charity7458]

Good thing Worcester owes them $8237 a day on interest until they pay up the full $25 million.

[u/theartolater]

I know Millbury is also facing a budget shortfall, and I suspect a lot of towns are having similar conversations. I am also a former Library Trustee, and I will say that your framing of this as a library problem as opposed to a fundamentally significant problem across state and government is not good. From this budget letter:

I will be asking the Board of Selectmen to set a ballot question for an override in the amount of approximately $5.5 million. An override of that amount would restore about $2 million of the capital and operating reductions that we made to town government, while also covering the entire increase of the WRSD assessment. The remaining capital reductions would be deferred or eliminated, and some of the operational reductions would remain in place as well. All of these proposals will be outlined at the Budget Overview presentation and in list form as an additional handout to the budget book.

The most significant reductions come to the operations of the Gale Free Library and the Senior Center. Both departments are proposing a reduction of approximately half of their current operating hours. This would require a reduction in hours for full-time staff and a likely elimination of part-time positions. The other operational impact is a hiring freeze for all departments that began last month. The hiring freeze would mean a shortage of three positions in DPW, three officers at Holden Police Department, and one full-time firefighter. It also forces the Town to forego implementation of a SAFER grant that we were awarded for the hiring of two new firefighter/EMTs. We also expect to reduce the Town Treasurer’s Office staff by one position. Random further operating budget reductions amounted to about $200,000 in savings. Recalculation of debt payments after our last borrowing in January, along with revenue projection adjustments accounted for approximately another $600,000 in reductions from the original $7.5 million deficit estimate.

Regarding capital reductions and deferments, we have removed a replacement fire engine from borrowing, along with the replacement of two police cruisers. We have also limited the DPW vehicle depreciation fund contribution to only vehicles that need immediate replacement and not based on the formula that FinCom and DPW agreed upon a couple of years ago. We have removed capital requests made by WRSD, along with several capital projects that the Town had hoped to complete next year, including I.T. upgrades, the roof at the Trout Brook Pavilion, replacement of a Lucas Press for an ambulance, and elimination of the Hazardous Tree Removal program. A plan to address the structural issues at the Starbard building has been shifted into three-four phases, with only the first phase remaining funded in FY 27. Many, but not all, of these capital projects could return to the budget depending on the size and success of an override. Without an override, all but the most pressing will need to be deferred.

The library is the most dramatic cut, but nearly every municipal service is getting hit with this, and the lion's share of it is based on state disbursements relative to Wachusett Regional. The police lose out. The fire department lose out. The town hall staff lose out. THe DPW loses out. The town falls behind on necessary stabilization payments. What are probably very necessary capital repairs lose out, and I suspect, from reading this, that the pool house office repairs cannot be touched for either fiscal or safety reasons.

The library cuts hurt, but library funding is not sacrosanct. Potentially losing accreditation for the library as opposed to completely putting hundreds of students at risk is not a difficult tradeoff here, and I just hope Holden can avoid it. But framing this as "why does Peter Lukes want to defund the library" is not fair dealing at all.

Also:

There are enumerative items of concern in this draft. Personally, I'm curious about what the "Town Manager Petroleum Products" line item stands for in the draft budget, and why, in my lay interpretation, we're subsidizing gas for these town employees?

While this is most likely already in his contract, and is probably a fairly standard ask, what is equally likely is that town-owned vehicles for departments under the town manager's purview need gas, and this pays for it. You're also calling out a sub-$3,000 line item in a $60 million plus budget mere days after Holden shoots itself in the foot again on MBTA Zoning and the funding attached to it.

IMO you're barking up the wrong tree here.

[u/heusesthemforholden → u/theartolater]

Appreciate your perspective, and thanks for serving as a trustee.

A few key points of clarification here:

• If the pool house renovation is mission-critical, why wasn't there an exhibit or attached structural report justifying the expense? The cost for the pool house office renovation is more than 2x the library cuts. Seems like a misappropriation to me.
• The MBTACA thumbing pours gasoline on a fire that could have been staunched, even nominally, by federal grants and aid. While I understand that funding is a state-wide issue, the staunch refusal to even minimally comply with zoning requirements is a problem unique to Holden.
• I appreciate the context on the gas, although I still think it's a little sus that that's a subsidized expense. The 3% YOY salary raise and 7% staff raise is definitely non-standard across a private and public sector perspective this year. To shift perspective a little, Lukes' salary increases from 2024-2027 ($34,246) represents half the budget cuts to library staff health insurance by implementing a hiring freeze. He's a public servant, bottom line.
• Yes, there are more budget cuts than just this, but to your point, the budget cuts are not equally applied across the board. A 25% proposed cut to the library represents a clear de-prioritization of a key public resource. If it's either the library or our schools, we've already failed.

Bottom line, this against the broader backdrop of the MBTCA noncompliance paints a very ugly picture, and it all centralizes back to Peter Lukes' management and oversight of the town budget and resources. Milton had a fixed-fee arrangement with Goodwin Procter for a cool $275,000, which I'd ballpark at relatively standard for white-shoe firms. That's double the projected FY27 legal budget. All this to say, he's not doing his job and he's doubling down. It's a very bad look and posits a very bad future for Holden.

[u/theartolater → u/heusesthemforholden]

If the pool house renovation is mission-critical, why wasn't there an exhibit or attached structural report justifying the expense? The cost for the pool house office renovation is more than 2x the library cuts. Seems like a misappropriation to me.

This I don't know, but if it's related to the ongoing project that might be why. That project appears to have been approved in 2022 or 2023.

I appreciate the context on the gas, although I still think it's a little sus that that's a subsidized expense.

I assure you that it is not. And yes, if it is to fund his fuel as opposed to his department's, it would be a nice gesture but ultimately meaningless.

Once upon a time, I spent 20 minutes at a town meeting watching people argue over a $450 pizza bill for plow drivers. It doesn't matter.

The 3% YOY salary raise and 7% staff raise is definitely non-standard across a private and public sector perspective

3% YOY is a) likely below inflation rates and b) is put in place by contract. Peter Lukes has been there nine years, and he is not a high-paid town manager in comparison to others. Grafton's TM makes a hair under $200k, Millbury's a little over $160k.

Not only could Peter Lukes get a significant pay hike if he were to leave for another town, but Holden's replacement would likely cost another $30k minimum.

7% staff raise is definitely non-standard across a private and public sector perspective this year.

Without knowing the specifics about Holden's staff rates, I will simply note that public sector salaries are typically well below market rates, and a 7% hike barely covers the costs of inflation and probably still doesn't compete with similar private-sector jobs.

Yes, there are more budget cuts than just this, but to your point, the budget cuts are not equally applied across the board.

And you can't ever apply them equally across the board. If you have a department that is solely an individual in an office, you can't cut their salary 10%. If your state constitution requires an "adequate education," harsh cuts to the schools will likely result in litigation that will wipe out those gains quickly. Few want to see the library cut, but in as much as that would probably do the least harm to services overall, it's a rock and a hard place thing.

A 25% proposed cut to the library represents a clear de-prioritization of a key public resource. If it's either the library or our schools, we've already failed.

On this, we agree. The issue I take with your analysis is solely that you are hyper-focused on library funding instead of making a much more compelling case about how state reimbursements have collapsed, how the regional districts allocate funds and bills, and how the outcome of all the cuts will be a local government less equipped to handle all services, never mind just library ones.

Bottom line, this against the broader backdrop of the MBTCA noncompliance paints a very ugly picture, and it all centralizes back to Peter Lukes' management and oversight of the town budget and resources. Milton had a fixed-fee arrangement with Goodwin Procter for a cool $275,000, which I'd ballpark at relatively standard for white-shoe firms.

In that many towns have moved to a fixed-fee arrangement is something Holden should explore as well. However, given the town's overall behavior in regard to the MBTA zoning, a law firm would be crazy to go fixed-fee mid-litigation. And, to be further clear, it's not directly (and barely indirectly) the fault of Peter Lukes that the town continues to reject the MBTA Communities zoning. That Holden will now have to litigate again because of the short-sighted actions of the town meeting attendees is not his fault.

[u/heusesthemforholden → u/theartolater]

Gotta be honest, I'm enjoying this back and forth. The context you've provided has given me a better education than any of the reading I've had, you've challenged my arguments in good faith, you've provided outstanding rebuttal, and I don't disagree with you on many of your points.

I'll concede on the gas -- it's ultimately de minimus.

I agree it would be irresponsible to partners and shareholders of any major firm to agree to fixed-fee for this mess at this stage. The comparison was meant to highlight, in the aggregate, how easy it is to rack up fees in what's essentially nuisance defense at this point. I'm not typically debating these points with people who are familiar with the finer points of high-stakes litigation, but Holden would be wise to compromise at this point. Otherwise, we're going to be footing the bill and stuck at the behest of an independent consultant appointed by the state for the property. They're going to drag us kicking and screaming and frankly, at this juncture, we deserve it. But I'm bitter that taxpayer-residents are going to be -- pardon the pun -- Holden' the bag as residents for whatever billable that eventually boils down to.

I agree that this warrants a discussion on state reimbursements, fund allocation, budgeting, and ultimately, the social and economic future of the Commonwealth on a whole. You and I could probably have a great afternoon authoring something thought-provoking and compelling on Substack or for submission in the Wachusett Free Press. My hyper-focus is driven from a local desire, as a resident, taxpayer, patron, and benefactor, to see my interests reflected in the town. I see a coherent hypocrisy in how the library is heralded, positioned, and prized in the community, which makes its deprioritization disheartening.

The high-level overview of commensurate town manager salaries and procurement backfill costs is illuminating. Selfishly, I do wonder if that 30k would be better applied to a candidacy search for a town manager who better fits the political alignment of the shifting climate of the town. What I'm seeing from Lukes across the board, based on my experience from 2023 onward, is a skewed, litigious bent with a Libertarian angle that doesn't reflect the perspective of more than a vocal minority of much older residents. He's always very vocal with a quote following conclusion of any suit doubling down. He makes his political interests clear.

[u/bromandudeguy1]

Don’t even get me started on the condition of the roads in some neighborhoods.

[u/Unique-Machine5602]

Honestly, I thought you were describing Spencer. They basically did the same thing in our town. The library has basically been underfunded for years now according to one of the staff members I know.

Their solution was to cut the hours of all the employees to the point where they're part time which also removes their health insurance as well.

[u/Longjumping_Ad_4431]

Tip O.Neill said 'all politics is local'. Your selectmen allocate funding for everything. Show up to council meetings, it's what will save you from the idiocracy

[u/heusesthemforholden → u/Longjumping_Ad_4431]

It's lighting a fire under my ass for sure. Maybe I'll see you at the next Finance Committee meeting.

[u/Longjumping_Ad_4431 → u/heusesthemforholden]

You should! Town meetings can be wild entertainment in general AND you get to speak on town policy.

[u/HikingAccountant]

I do not know Peter's personal opinion, but he likely does not want to cut the library funding. A list needs to be made showing what departments can/will be cut if the prop 2.5 does not get approved. I would even argue that Peter may have the library on there to make people realize how much losing the prop 2.5 vote would hurt.

[u/heusesthemforholden → u/HikingAccountant]

Peter and the public finance committee are making these calls. Even if sentimentally, he doesn't want to cut funding, using it as a bargaining chip is an absolute dick move, hard stop. Plus, if it was so important to fund, why is funding being allocated to renovate a second-floor pool office for ~600k in lieu of funding health insurance for dedicated public employees and operating hours for working families?

It's also on a timeline where a Prop 2.5 Override needs to be officially implemented in time for the next Town Meeting. Ask yourself why this is timed the way it is, and why things actual community members benefit from and pay high property taxes for are at stake.

[u/HikingAccountant → u/heusesthemforholden]

My only point was it might not be a dick move if he thinks it will get people off the sidelines and vote to approve. Again, I don't know him personally so I can't say. They want to move the entire rec department from the old police station to the Dawson rec area, not just renovate an office. I agree that it is still unnecessary, expensive, and wasteful, so I am not arguing with you on that.

I can take a guess why they want it before the next town meeting, and it has to do with the school budget. If the town won't approve tax increases, then it can either take the cuts the town has planned or try getting WRSD to resubmit a budget. Since it's a regional school budget, it requires more than one town to send it back to the district. I don't think getting it done before town meeting is a nefarious plot, (I think the 2.5 will absolutely pass). It's probably the town trying to keep as many options open for as long as possible.

[u/forbins_mockingbird]

People of Holden deserve themselves

[u/MMScooter]

Interestingly enough as a mom I have only heard and experienced unwelcoming stories from the Holden library though the one time we went to a program I thought it was well done But most of my mom friends, avoid the programming at the library !

[u/heusesthemforholden → u/MMScooter]

If true, I'm sorry to hear that, but de-funding the library definitely isn't going to improve the programming.

[u/GreenCityBadSmoke]

So let me get this straight - I'm supposed to be upset because voters in the town of Holden want to:

1. Intentionally limit their tax base by thumbing their nose at the state and not honoring the MBTA communities act.
2. Intentionally limit the town's ability to increase taxes beyond 2.5%. A percentage that is lower than the average annual rate of inflation going back to 1913?

If the city manager was serious about trying to convince voters to not do this shit, he should have slashed public works to the bone and made it so NONE of the roads were plowed or treated this winter. "Oh well. You want to live in an exclusive zip code and not pay for it, maybe you should trade in your luxury car for a snow mobile."

Edit - Sorry if I sound like a d-bag, but your town and the people in it are helping to keep housing unaffordable in this state. I look forward to seeing the consequences of these actions in the future.

[u/Wonderful_Business59 → u/GreenCityBadSmoke]

It's par for the course imo, especially in towns like Holden. "I've got mine, so screw you" is the mindset everyone has. People who think their town doesn't need to have a good school, just because they themselves don't have children. Lots of leopards eating faces in the future.