With state revenues down, local officials are concerned about possible reductions in financial aid from the state.

On Thursday, the Selectmen and town administrators from Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester met to discuss the 2014 budgets.

Rochester Town Administrator Richard LaCamera said towns should be worried that state revenues are falling short. If this continues, LaCamera said Governor Deval Patrick might be forced to make 9C budget cuts across the state.

Under state laws, the Governor can implement 9C cuts mid-year if the projected state revenues are short of state spending.

“This is an extreme concern,” LaCamera said. “The state aid numbers are not the same and the state’s revenues are significantly down. This could cause serious problems for all of us."

“The problem is the economy,” said Marion Town Administrator Paul Dawson. “People aren’t buying as much or traveling as much. It’s a recipe for disaster.”

Mattapoisett Town Administrator Mike Gagne agreed.

“This could happen mid-year, which makes it even more problematic,” Gagne said. “I think we need early discussions to prepare budgets and get an early reaction.”

Last year, all three towns struggled with budget planning.

The schools, in particular, suffered budget shortfalls due to contract obligations, increases in special education costs as well as a rising number of students choosing to attend a vocational school, and rising costs of utilities.

Rochester Memorial School, Marion's Sippican School, and both the Old Rochester Regional Junior High and Senior High Schools were forced to make staff cuts to balance the budgets.

To ensure that any shortfalls in the budgets do not come as a surprise to town officials, Superintendent Doug White has already started working on the 2014 budget plans with the individual towns' budget sub-committees.

The town officials have commended White for his work thus far.

“His open communication is refreshing,” Dawson said. “Getting an early start on the process is important. There definitely appears to be state cuts on the horizon”