Town Meeting voted to adopt the finance committee’s Article 8 operating budget, which includes continued funding for the Affordable Housing Trust and the town’s housing office. An amendment by Town Meeting member Toby Brown sought to remove $7,790,094 from the town housing office’s line items; that amendment was defeated and the finance committee’s motion was adopted as printed.

Brown argued the town should slow down certain large appropriations, questioned project delivery and noted the Housing Trust carries substantial unspent balances. Housing Director Christy Ferrantella and Affordable Housing Trust vice chair Penny Dye outlined the trust’s recent results: the trust has supported more than 350 households in six years, has used funds for closing-cost assistance, lease-to-local programs and strategic investments to preserve year-round housing, and has projects lined up that the trust expects to deploy over multiple years.

Ferrantella said trust funds allow bonding without raising the annual tax rate and support programs such as year-round deed restrictions and down-payment assistance — tools the housing office and trust say are necessary in Nantucket’s high-cost market. Brown’s amendment failed (yes 134, no 596), and the main motion adopting Article 8 passed (yes 630, no 97).

Speakers highlighted tensions that surfaced during the debate: some residents urged slower spending and stronger project-level accountability; housing officials said there are active pipelines of projects and that funds are being deployed strategically to maintain the town’s compliance with state housing programs and local needs. Select board and finance representatives said the budget process included detailed review by the finance committee and multiple public hearings.