The Ipswich Files

TAKE BACK OUR TOWN

We need a plan for Ipswich’s future: schools, water, infrastructure, waste removal AND a public safety building. Not just a series of separate hands in the taxpayer pockets.
The price tag for a Public Safety Building has grown from the $27.5 million that voters approved to $37.3 million - a 46% increase! The ask planned for the 5/12/26 Town Meeting was reduced from $13.8M to $9.8M only after political pushback, not because the project got cheaper.
Before you approve almost $10 MILLION more for a public safety building, take 10-15 minutes.

Read the proof for yourself in the public records.
This isn’t propaganda. This is what has actually happened.
Send a message to town leaders that you want a strategic, future-focused and financially responsible plan for Ipswich.

Leaders Knew They Were Over Budget in December 2022

Town leaders KNEW this was a bad decision in 2022 but the committee KEPT GOING and misled taxpayers:
   - Town Manager Crane alerted the committee that the building was already $5 million above budget.
   - Fire Chief Parisi was “feeling heartsick” about having to tell taxpayers about the 18% reduction and compromise of services.
   - Police Chief Nikas said we should be telling the townspeople that all the needs couldn’t be achieved in the $25 million building
The meeting minutes can be found here: IPSWICH PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY COMMITTEE December 6, 2022

Your Taxes WILL Skyrocket

The Ipswich Strategic Planning Committee estimated in October 2025 that if voters were to approve every project on the town’s long list of capital investments — approximately $305 million worth — the average tax bill will increase by roughly $4,250 by 2035!
Read the article here: What can Ipswich afford? Town weighs capital projects against taxpayer limits

Traffic Study Was Conducted When School Wasn't In Session – & Still Raised Concerns

- The intersection of Pineswamp & Linebrook would need to be expanded to three times its current size. The town will need MORE MONEY for this.
- On-street parking would be banned along Pineswamp and Linebrook, affecting weddings, funerals, concerts, etc.
Read the Traffic Study here: Ipswich Traffic Study

How a Necessary Project Became an Unaccountable One

Want to see the timeline and all the facts? Read an evidence-based analysis of why an additional $9.8 million is throwing good money after bad.
The full document can be read here: The Case Against Approving Additional Funding

Independent Analysis of the Project Record

This analysis reviews the documentary record of the Ipswich Public Safety Facility (PSF) project from the formation of the Public Safety Facility Committee (PSFC) in December 2016 through the December 2025 design-revision phase preceding the May 12, 2026 Annual Town Meeting vote on a $9.8 million supplemental borrowing request.
The complete analysis can be read here: Independent Analysis of the Project Record

5 Reasons to Vote 'NO' on Article 13

#1 Broken Promises When voters orginally approved funding for the public safty building, we were told the cost was a 'not-to-exceed figure' of $27.5 million.
#2 Fiscal Overreach In November 2025 the Strategic Planning Committee reported that if Ipswich voters were to approve every capital project eing proposed our average annual property tax would rise 46% by 2035
#3 Wrong Location Ipswich citizens were told that there were 4.5 buildable acres on the Linebrook/Pineswamp site, but in truth, there are only 2.3 buildable acres.
#4 Schools in Jeopardy Ipswich elementary schools are no longer physically safe for our children and educators.
#5 It's Not Too Late The money that voters already approved for building a public safety facility has not yet been bonded and will not hit our tax bills if we vote NO.