TAKE BACK OUR TOWN
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
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
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 Independent Analysis of the Tax Increase: What Ipswich’s Major Projects Could Cost Taxpayers
- 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
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
#1 Critical Site Information was not given to voters The Pineswamp site is a Zone 2 well-head protection area - rainwater on this site is crucial for our water supply. It was sold to voters in 2020 on assertions the wetlands, soil and buildable area were suitable. The town’s own consultant disputed these assertions in writing. The 2019 site evaluation matrix scored the soil 1 of 3 points (non-standard foundation required) and cost of development 1 of 3 (excessive costs). #2 The buildable area is insufficient Voters were told the Pineswamp site contained 4.5 acres of buildable land. The site plan shows ONLY 1.3 buildable acres. The Town did not take into consideration the extent of the wetlands. The cramped size and steep slope (into a swamp) has required expensive redesigns and has forced the building upwards vertically, leaving no room for future expansion. #3 The permitting process was flawed To get the permit approved, the building designation was changed from a “municipal fire building”, which IS NOT allowed on a Zone 2 well-head, to an “administration building with garage bays”, which IS allowed. The town’s permitting boards granted several types of exceptions and permits – for parking, setbacks, wetlands, height – that are often denied to private applicants. The town also gave itself a 70% set back variance from 50 to 15 #4 Some costs are still unknown Town meeting voters have not been told the intersection of Pineswamp and Linebrook must be re-built. This cost is still UNKNOWN and is not included in the town’s supplemental $9.8 M. The cost to install 13 state-mandated EV charging stations is also unaccounted for. #5 No guarantee costs won’t increase again Costs have ballooned over 36%. In 2021 $27.5M was approved and the town promised “not to exceed” that number. In 2022, the committee knew the project was $5M over budget and scaled back the building by the 18%. In 2023, voters approved a $500K increase and the town stated this would be the “last request”. The town has also earmarked $2M of COVID funds for the project. It’s 2026 and the town is now asking for $9.8M more.