Norwood Finance Committee approves FY26 budget book, backs $2 million capital stabilization fund and multiple special‑meeting articles

The Town of Norwood Finance Committee voted Thursday to approve the town's FY26 budget book and recommended a slate of special‑town‑meeting articles, including creating a capital stabilization fund initially funded at $2,000,000.

The committee's action advances the budget document toward printing and the board of selectmen's final warrant process ahead of annual town meeting. The committee also recommended funding measures for schools, pensions and other reserve accounts and endorsed a transfer to cover a snow‑and‑ice deficit without asking town meeting for additional appropriation.

Committee chair opened the meeting and moved quickly to approve two sets of minutes from March 27 and an April 8 joint meeting with the board of selectmen; both sets were approved, the April 8 minutes carried with one abstention.

The committee then reviewed the FY26 budget book, approved it by voice vote and discussed the chair's introductory letter for the book. Committee members agreed the letter should be concise and focus on structural budget pressures; the group highlighted that, per the memo to selectmen, the tax levy is increasing by about $3,000,000 and fixed…