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Town administrator warns of tight FY26 budget as state aid and growth fall short
Summary
Town Administrator Andrew Zukfoth and finance staff presented a draft FY26 budget showing a fall in state aid (smart growth), reduced new growth timing for major projects, and reliance on free cash and cuts; officials warned of potential cuts or an override in coming years.
Town Administrator Andrew Zukfoth and town finance staff presented the draft fiscal 2026 budget at the March 31 Select Board meeting, saying the town faces tighter revenues and several multi-year risks that could force cuts or a future override.
Zukfoth told the board the town's projection shows a drop in state aid tied to the Smart Growth program, with Lakeville's FY26 allotment falling below prior averages. He said Smart Growth awards shrank because more towns applied for the same statewide pool. That decline, he said, reduces revenue by roughly $325,000 relative to expectations and will not be fully resolved until the Legislature or state agencies act.
The presentation reviewed line-by-line revenue assumptions: the tax levy increase (2.5 percent), increases in motor vehicle excise and EMS receipts, and…
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