Article 7. Fiscal Year 2026 Town Budget

ARTICLE 7. To determine whether the Town will raise and appropriate or transfer from available funds, the sum of $59,674,465, or any other sum, for the necessary and expedient purposes of the Town for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, as detailed in the chart published on the Town’s website and incorporated in the Town Meeting Briefing Book;

And further, that the Town Manager be authorized to turn in or sell at public auction surplus equipment, the amount allowed or received therefore to be applied against the purchase of new equipment; 

That the appropriation for Salary Reserve under Line Item $581,506 shall be transferred by the Town Manager to the various salary line items in accordance with salary levels established effective July 1, 2025 and thereafter pursuant to (a) the salary schedules adopted under Article 5, (b) the implementation of the merit pay plan in accordance with the Personnel Bylaw, and (c) collective bargaining agreements. Any such transfer shall be reported periodically by the Town Manager to the Select Board and the Finance Committee, and a final report shall be issued when all such transfers have been completed for the fiscal year; and

That the Town authorize the funds to be expended from the Title 5 Septic Loan Betterment Reserve Account to meet the loan payments to the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust due and payable during FY2026;

or take any other action relative thereto.

Article Explanation

The full Town Budget with all line items will be posted on the Town’s website under the tab for 2025 Annual Town Meeting, presented at pre-Town Meeting hearing before the Finance Committee on Thursday, April 10, 2025, and included in the Town Meeting Briefing Book to be mailed to all households. The Town Budget Article provides for all General Fund (tax-supported) Town operations and activities organized by Town Charter under the direction of the Town Manager. The total appropriation presented here for consideration for Town Meeting approval meets the Finance Committee’s guideline set for FY26. The text above also makes certain other appropriation from Stabilization and Enterprise Funds, as well as authorizes certain other transfers.

Article Motion

Ms. Hartman moves that that the Town raise and appropriate the sum of $62,630,061, plus the sum of $1,000,000 to be transferred from Article 24 – CMS Stabilization Fund, and transfer the following amounts:

• $285,443 from the Cemetery Fund;
• $319,272 from the Sewer Fund;
• $925,930 from the Water Fund;
• $662,446 from the Light Fund;
• $147,536 from the Solid Waste Fund;
• $60,003 from the Swim & Fitness Fund;
• $37,214 from the Telecom Fund;
• $1,606 from PEG Access Fund;
• $1,650,000 from the Pension Reserve Fund;
• $142,161 from the Recreation Fund;
• $4,500 from the Transportation Network Fund; and

for a total appropriation under Article 7 of $63,630,061, as printed in the Briefing Book, Items 1 – 14 for the necessary and expedient purposes of the Town for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2026, and that the same be expended only for such purposes under the direction of the Town Manager; and further, that the Town Manager is authorized to turn in or sell at public auction surplus equipment, the amount allowed or received therefore to be applied against the purchase of new equipment; and that the appropriation for Salary Reserve under Line Item 10 shall be transferred by the Town Manager to the various salary line items in accordance with Non-Union salary levels established effective July 1, 2025 and the implementation of the Non-Union merit pay plan in accordance with Section 10.2 (2) of the Personnel Bylaws, and any and all collective bargaining agreements in effect for FY2026; and further that the Town authorize the funds to be expended from the Title 5 Septic Loan Betterment Reserve Account to meet the loan payments to the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust due and payable during FY2026.