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NRTA advisory board approves FY26 draft budget and administrator contract
Summary
The NRTA advisory board approved a FY26 draft budget and unanimously approved an employment contract for the NRTA administrator; the authority plans to rely on state fare-free funding and ARPA federal funds to balance the budget.
The Nantucket Regional Transit Authority advisory board voted to approve the FY26 draft budget and separately approved an employment contract for Administrator Gary Roberts during its May 7 meeting.
Roberts presented a draft FY26 budget that projects a nearly $6,000,000 total budget and noted the authority is drawing down federal ARPA funds to cover operating increases. He said payroll costs have risen with the creation of a CFO position and other staffing additions; the authority is balancing increased costs with anticipated state fare-free funding and connectivity grant allocations.
Roberts said fair-free funding is currently authorized through Dec. 31 of this year and that continued funding is pending the state budget; he described a governor's proposal and a Senate alternative with larger statewide allocations. He also said the authority split expected grant revenue across two fiscal years in budget planning.
The board moved and seconded approval (voice votes recorded as "Aye"), and the chair announced the budget items and the administrator contract were approved. On the contract, Roberts and select board staff worked with town administration and the human resources department to align the NRTA employment contract with applicable rules; Roberts noted the authority operates under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 161B.
Ending: The board approved the FY26 draft budget and the administrator's employment contract; staff said adjustments will be made as state budget actions and grant awards are finalized.
