[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6455465,"mediaKeyId","5845813-81d9760779f13fdf74af7bf4586da228","parentId",5845813,"title","Charlton advances capital plan using Amazon-related new growth to shore up reserves and one-time projects","audioSeconds",1203,"startMs",20935,"endMs",1224670,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5845813-81d9760779f13fdf74af7bf4586da228&start=20&end=1224","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5845813-81d9760779f13fdf74af7bf4586da228/thumbnail_20935.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6455465/Town-of-Charlton/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Charlton-advances-capital-plan-using-Amazon-related-new-growth-to-shore-up-reserves-and-one-time-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455465-19c3c7327bc1b55c971576a1389e2525/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140804&Signature=O5zVVWz-kzmRHsVPxrJouXWAuI1W6ZX6giCKANsbR9gzap8Jz2CabKJRBmhDbL4ceT2UCT4X6E-WTOwcowjBlaiPKko336aVYNn5s93l3gxo-KXogTohHqTKO22opyjBngs3At-4VKW4njj0pK75Y9HXf-VbsyrpzBLpRL5EixYxKPRmG1Czp6LbYuAvo58szXwRFF~qTWF4-Cbd2mmke18~Hz5wqAN4n4BWcxYNoDlx8460PfqZSreX46O-8M~40vO9djsRcLc8dijG1ngbcnpfOcGWZyIsd1OBr~YLjJ-4vtsJbdNBy3bOkGW9SuXOnxWdEVsSbjKV9u03TJppQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Charlton","date","2025-09-29T05:39:29Z","article","Town of Charlton officials voted to advance a capital improvement plan that directs a recent one-time increase in tax valuation tied to an Amazon facility toward stabilization funds, capital projects and other one-time costs.

The committee said certified free cash totaled about $2.8 million and that the town expects roughly $5 million in one-time “new growth” tied to Amazon’s property and inventory. Under the plan advanced at the meeting, the town would spend a portion of that revenue on one-time needs rather than using it for ongoing operating expenses.

Town staff told the committee the plan sets aside roughly $1.5 million for the town’s regular stabilization fund, about $1 million for capital stabilization, and approximately $2.5 million for OPEB (other post-employment benefits). The package also allocates $450,000 to cover a midyear health-insurance increase the town expects, and smaller sums for legal services, municipal utilities, town-hall improvements, town technology upgrades and targeted personnel adjustments tied to retirements and recruitment costs.

Officials said the approach is intended to prevent a large single-year increase in residential tax bills by using excess levy capacity and one-time revenue for short-term needs. \"If we don't spend it now, it would hit the taxpayer,\" one presenter said, describing the choice to apply the Amazon-related new growth to one-time items.

The board also discussed a half-year hire for the highway department to address staffing shortages (paid initially from the new-growth allocation with the position added to next year’s operating budget if approved). Town staff said contract language would set a lower insurance contribution rate for new hires beginning Jan. 1, which would reduce the town’s cost for a midyear addition.

The finance committee moved that the town \"move forward with the capital plan as proposed.\" The motion was seconded and recorded as unanimous by voice vote in the meeting transcript; an exact roll-call count was not specified in the record.

Officials emphasized the town's conservative approach to one-time revenue, noting that personal property and inventory valuations can depreciate and that the Amazon-related growth is unlikely to recur at the same level. The assessor, Kathy, was cited in discussion as the official responsible for certifying valuations used to compute new-growth figures.

The action advances the capital plan into the town’s warrant and preparations for town meeting, where voters will consider the detailed appropriations and any separate article votes.

Less critical line items discussed during the capital-plan presentation included targeted funding for code enforcement and property cleanup, town library building repairs, cemetery reimbursements and routine replacement of vehicles and equipment for police, fire and public works.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Committee Meeting September 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Town officials unanimously moved forward a capital improvement plan that allocates certified free cash and one-time new-growth revenue from an Amazon facility toward stabilization, capital projects and OPEB, while setting aside funds for insurance, personnel adjustments and a possible half-year highway hire.","taxTitle","Town of Charlton, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",54464,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455458,"Selectmen discussion on senior center study returns; motion to add $50,000 from free cash made and seconded",689,1803544,2493492,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5845813-81d9760779f13fdf74af7bf4586da228&start=1803&end=2493","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5845813-81d9760779f13fdf74af7bf4586da228/thumbnail_1803544.jpg","/articles/6455458/Town-of-Charlton/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Selectmen-discussion-on-senior-center-study-returns-motion-to-add-50000-from-free-cash-made-and-seconded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455458-f51c60bd9dd010e142934d80fc4093e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140804&Signature=OxOYUh8UmN-sJFAUAStkDefrJYZVYGJuR3evXQTeuaOo~RuQ8H72ZoDOviSoymvLsiGyAcRDSeR9SEWVVEysbVJa3QAq9QvBepGuL68kHyx-dPbzEwc7PX7aKe6cJJiK~MMGIU38AsxJh9RrDndUJgaI7DgjFtf-qDMyP--AtwkvosWLjf5oIu1sFK1YreHyEDkn9TvxVQaeGWV8F6GQege1f4s0KvPltHo0or9iYIqjLQGFIPapTH4N91QIwhRApQJ2cEKtm1S2jzFi8ylT-QWUUPoUhgXxejmVpkCWyBBBrYrUZPVtjVRrcnLbVC-9Wx6EJ0bHMVXTGnkDPtKmNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town officials reopened discussion about funding a feasibility and design study for a proposed senior center and briefly debated adding $50,000 to the capital-improvement plan to support the work.

Presenters and participants described two possible facilities discussed previously: a proposal tied to a site known in the transcript as the Toronto Crossing parcel (which was reported to have a private party sign a lease) and an alternative building described as more suitable for conversion. Town staff described the $50,000 request as a design- and marketability-style study to assess infrastructure, accessibility, and the project’s potential to support seniors and broader recreation programming that could generate revenue over time.

Several officials noted the senior-center request had been considered previously and that a Selectmen’s Committee had not forwarded the item onto the warrant earlier in the process. Participants referenced town priorities, including imminent school capital needs, and debated whether the study should be added into the capital-improvement booklet now or proposed as a floor amendment at town meeting.

Near the end of the meeting, one participant moved to add $50,000 from free cash \"for use of a design study for senior center,\" and another participant seconded the motion. The transcript records the motion and a second; it does not record a roll-call vote or final outcome in the provided excerpt.

Officials also discussed demographic context, noting about 27% of the town’s population is currently classified as seniors, and some participants argued that a combined senior-and-recreation use could create revenue opportunities and broader community benefit. Others cited competing capital demands — notably school facilities work — as the reason for caution about adding a new project.

Because the transcript does not record the final vote on the $50,000 amendment, the outcome is listed as not recorded; insertion into the capital plan would require either committee consent to add the line now or a motion on the town-meeting floor with appropriate warrant language.","A proposal to add $50,000 to the capital plan to fund a senior-center feasibility/design study was debated; the finance/selectmen meeting recorded a motion and a second to add the amount from free cash, but the transcript does not record a final vote on that amendment.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455462,"Landfill closure bids exceed estimates; Charlton to add contingency to bid award",140,56670,197420,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5845813-81d9760779f13fdf74af7bf4586da228&start=56&end=197","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5845813-81d9760779f13fdf74af7bf4586da228/thumbnail_56670.jpg","/articles/6455462/Town-of-Charlton/Worcester-County/Massachusetts/Landfill-closure-bids-exceed-estimates-Charlton-to-add-contingency-to-bid-award","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455462-e2b600940ded0039df723bf4aac90f6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140804&Signature=ArpO38K6Wq4D7wISGAWou3qxp~OEwxlhjxdISdnLUGsRDi5UFy4b9U3trmVHamSf3KH0213pOK9sld1aAyHpNoEmjst2CHAD4ouiILBF2e5nB56yWxIHdZ76oqeRdUkfnwsTxA3T-GfUdEg1vI8aXaRrH-VjGDcAGI~TvWWsW5C8kQ8AWywuh-JoATTr-NxXpNTdyr1FkVUj57X6PbMuXjPubG0-EecfFgGAPa0UOiH7j9dYB-X~OTE~ALjx8HAz3S-iBzjlv1XBydtBgNfhAfSbOxVwm1LIRV-hsIO1LkI5P-5nQAxfpm8CxwEtdY6O6Be06MS9IlcZWfI7eoCIoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town officials told the meeting that bids for a landfill closure project the town previously authorized arrived higher than anticipated and that staff plan to add contingency funding to complete the work and award a contract.

Presenters said the lowest two bids are under review and the town is prepared to proceed with the third-lowest responsive bidder if the first two are rejected; that third bid was roughly $2.1 million. A consultant’s revised project budget included a 10% contingency and an 8% allowance for engineering; town staff proposed adding about $500,000 into the project budget to cover contingencies and ensure a contract award could proceed without delay.

The discussion referenced prior budgeted amounts for PFAS testing and that the project budget reflects required closure work. Town staff said the $500,000 supplement was new information since the previous meeting and was prompted by the bids that arrived the prior week.

No separate roll-call vote on the landfill award appeared in the meeting transcript. The landfill contingency and other capital items were included as line items in the capital-improvement plan the committee advanced into the warrant.","Bids for the town’s previously authorized landfill closure came in higher than estimated; the town plans to add about $500,000 in contingency to the project budget to award the contract and cover required engineering and testing costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Charlton advances capital plan using Amazon-related new growth to shore up reserves and one-time projects

Selectmen discussion on senior center study returns; motion to add $50,000 from free cash made and seconded

Landfill closure bids exceed estimates; Charlton to add contingency to bid award