As towns prepare next year’s budgets, things are looking a little grim.

Rochester is preparing for layoffs. Marion and Mattapoisett are still in the planning the stages but, for the departments that have actually turned in their projections, long-term projects are looking to get put on the back burner.

All three towns are facing increased special education costs as well.

With no state aid on the way and a tighter budget than ever, Rochester Town Administrator Richard LaCamera says the town will likely have to cut services and employees next year.

LaCamera reported to the Board of Selectmen on Monday night that, due to increased costs and the reduction in state funding, the town will have to make some changes in 2013.

“We are going to have to cut some of the services, programs and staff this year,” LaCamera said. “We’ve always tried to maintain services and staff, but we can’t do it this year. We just can’t do it.”

The town, he said, is facing several increases to the budget in 2013, which includes the cost of special education, due to an increased number of Rochester students in need of special education services.

“It’s very difficult to deal with issues in special education when you don’t have the money,” he said.

Rochester will also be responsible for an increase of $43,000 next year for recently retired staff.

Board of Selectmen Chair Brad Morse said 2013 will be a tough year.

“We will do our best, but there are hard decisions to be made,” Morse said.

In Marion, the 2013 budget is still in the planning stages. Town Administrator Paul Dawson has asked that the boards and committees of the town submit two preliminary budget reports – a level-service and a level-funded.

The level-service budget would be an estimated cost for what each board or committee anticipates would be needed for the coming year to maintain the current level of services, whereas a level-funded budget would keep the 2013 budget the same as in 2012, making adjustments to services to cut costs.

“These are preliminary numbers,” Dawson said. “We will have a better idea what we are looking at in 2013 after they are reviewed.”

The town, he said, has not yet planned any cutbacks in services or employees for 2013.

Dawson said some budgets will have to be increased to accommodate service needs such as special education. Superintendent Doug White said special education costs in Marion will increase from $308,150 to $407,462 in 2013.

“We have three, possibly four, cases no longer serviced in-house which as we know means to go outside the district can be very costly,” Dawson said.

The current agreement between the three towns – Marion, Mattapoisett and Rochester – states that each town is individually responsible for financing special education services to students until the age of 22.

Some Mattapoisett departments haven’t turned in their projections yet, despite a January 20 deadline. Town Administrator Mike Gagne said there are a few things the town needs to put on a “watch list”: health insurance, retirement assessment and veterans’ benefits.

“We’re looking at increases across the board,” Gagne said at Monday night’s meeting of the Selectmen, Finance Committee and Capital Improvement Program members.

“Health insurance is looking at a 10 percent adjustment increase. We’ll probably have an $85,000 increase for retirement and an additional $30,000 for veterans. Everything is preliminary still.”

Gagne instructed department heads to provide a written explanation of any deviations from budgets in the past.

Selectman Jordan Collyer said he expected a three to four percent reduction in state aid compared to last year.

Gagne added that the town has always adjusted its budget to reflect less money coming in than expected.