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Manager presents tight FY26 draft budget; council weighs cuts, TIF and undesignated funds to limit tax increase
Summary
Town staff presented draft FY26 revenues and spending, highlighted conservative revenue projections, multiple department wage increases and one‑time capital cuts; staff outlined two tax‑impact scenarios that depend on how much undesignated fund balance is used and noted the town hall bond payment is partially offset by TIF.
South Berwick officials presented a conservative FY26 draft budget at the March 4 town council workshop, flagging limited revenue upside, several departmental wage increases and one‑time reductions in capital improvement funds to reduce immediate tax impacts.
The Town Manager said staff worked through 19 drafts and met repeatedly with department heads to constrain spending. "This is a very tight budget this year," the manager said, noting staff built almost no contingency into recurring accounts and made one‑time reductions that could not be sustained beyond a single year.
On revenue, finance staff raised vehicle excise tax revenue by an estimated $55,000 and projected a total net revenue increase of about $140,295. The manager and Danica (finance staff) warned the town had not yet received county and school budgets and that state revenue sharing remained uncertain…
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