Brentwood select board trims 2025 budget, cuts increase to low single digits after line-by-line review

The Brentwood Town Select Board voted on a package of line-item cuts and reallocations intended to lower a preliminary 12.1% budget increase to the mid- to low-single-digit range for 2025.

Board members said the fiscal work started when a preliminary budget showing a roughly 12–13% increase arrived in the fall. Over multiple motions the board reopened the entire budget and approved a series of targeted reductions, trimming underspent or historically overbudgeted lines across general government, police, fire, highway and other departments.

The board reopened the budget by motion (moved, seconded, passed by voice). In the executive office the board shifted $1,000 between lines and agreed to a net $4,100 reduction there. The town-administrator salary was set at $100,000 (a reduction versus the prior line) and the board approved the revised town-administrator line in the budget that reflects that salary. The finance budget was adjusted to reflect the promotion of Ambrose to town treasurer and to move outsourced bookkeeping dollars into an in‑house treasurer line; that change added FICA/Medicare but was approved to bring the work in house.

Public-safety budgets were also adjusted. Police wages were reduced after the lieutenant reported nine officers on staff and an expected falloff in part-time usage; that change lowered the police budget by roughly $36,259. The fire department accepted a $41,220 reduction spread across overtime, training, fuel and equipment lines after discussing staffing needs with the board; the board approved those changes.

Highway and snow-and-ice budgets drew extended discussion. The Select Board approved a set of reductions in highway operating lines that left the overall highway budget essentially flat year-to-year (the board approved a new highway total of $812,637 as presented). For snow-and-ice control, the board approved lowering the sand/salt/cold-patch line and indicated they will encumber remaining salt funds to cover expected needs; the board approved a revised snow-and-ice figure of $96,784 with one abstention recorded.

Board members stressed the work was intentional and iterative: the board sought to preserve necessary operational capacity while trimming lines that had been routinely underspent. Select board members repeatedly said the adjustments still allow for contingency and that the town retains capital-reserve and other buffers for unexpected costs.

Votes at a glance: the board reopened the budget (motion passed by voice), approved the town-administrator salary reflected in the revised budget line, approved multiple line-item cuts across executive, police, fire, highway, planning and other budgets (motions moved, seconded, passed by voice), and approved the overall revised bottom-line budget figure shared by staff (the board reported a working total of $6,826,043 after the changes). The board also approved placing several warrant article drafts (solar fund cleanup and a recreation assistant appropriation) on track for formal wording and later ratification by voters.

Why it matters: The Select Board framed the revisions as an attempt to present voters a more moderate increase than the preliminary 12%–13% figure, while maintaining essential services and retaining options to encumber or reallocate funds if unanticipated needs arise.

The board said some items will be finalized with updated figures before the official warrant is posted; staff will confirm final totals and PrimeX/insurance numbers where noted.

Ending: The board asked staff to circulate the revised numbers to the Budget Committee and to post materials before the public hearing so residents can see how cuts were made. The board emphasized that further small adjustments are still possible before the final warrant is posted for voter consideration.