Whitman Recreation Commission cuts Fourth of July event to save revolving fund money

WHITMAN — May 29, 2025 — Whitman Recreation Commission approves scaled-back Fourth of July event and summer staffing rates amid a town-wide budget squeeze. The three-member commission, operating with two vacancies after resignations, voted unanimously Thursday to hold a stripped-down Fourth of July family fun day — dropping bouncy houses, a face painter, and a free pool session that pushed last year's cost to roughly $5,000 — and instead allocated funds only for relay race and parade staffing and a pre-booked $500 DJ. The commission also approved summer pay rates for pool and park program staff, with lifeguards starting at $16 per hour and park counselors at $15, and unanimously added a seventh week to the park program running August 11-15 at the request of Park Program Director Abby Raposa. The municipal pool, which costs $10,000 to $12,000 to operate per season, has already drawn $4,500 from the revolving fund for chemicals alone, and the commission is watching a June 4 school budget deadline that may trigger a special town meeting and determine whether any general fund money flows to recreation this year.