Lakeville town administrator puts forward $39.0 million FY26 budget; select board endorses recommendation

The Town of Lakeville Select Board voted on May 19 to support the Town Administrator’s recommended fiscal year 2026 budget totaling $39,013,519.

Town officials said the FY26 proposal reduces one‑time reliance compared with recent years but still uses a limited amount of free cash for discrete items (about $176,000 in one‑time funds, including a $100,000 reserve and transfers). The budget includes routine operational increases, a request to fund the transfer station (an operating shortfall of about $100,000), capital requests totaling approximately $1.1 million, and roughly $776,000 in road improvements (Chapter 90 and other funding).

The town administrator briefed the board on notable inclusions and risks: four firefighter positions funded through ARPA in the proposed budget; a $20,000 overtime increase requested by the police department; townwide nonunion compensation increases modeled at 3 percent (a separate select board vote approved the 3 percent nonunion increase); and various capital items such as the library roof, town website, police vehicle replacements and DPW vehicle chassis.

Board members expressed concern about multi‑year sustainability. The town administrator and finance staff noted that unrestricted state aid and smart‑growth receipts improved during the legislative process and that the town’s combined stabilization and reserves provide flexibility going into FY27. Select board members asked staff to prepare scenarios for FY27 that address likely education and fixed‑cost increases, and to explore longer‑term revenue diversification options (for example, meals tax or other permissible local revenue sources) before next year’s budget cycle.

The board voted to support the recommended budget; staff will present detailed warrant language and budget backup to the finance committee and bring any adjustments to the board prior to the June 9 annual town meeting.