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Millis Finance Committee rehearses Town Meeting warrant ahead of May 4; presents $48 million FY2027 budget and several capital and policy items
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Summary
At a pre‑Town Meeting rehearsal on April 29, the Millis Finance Committee walked through warrant articles including a roughly $48.0 million FY2027 operating budget, capital requests, a $1.29 million water‑meter borrowing authorization, $200,000 in CPA support for a 48‑unit affordable housing project, and proposed zoning definitions for battery storage and data centers. The committee answered resident questions but did not take Town Meeting votes at the rehearsal.
The Millis Finance Committee on April 29 held a pre‑Town Meeting rehearsal to present and explain the items voters will see at the May 4 Town Meeting, including the town’s proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2027 and several capital and policy warrant articles.
Fincom Chair John Lohr opened the session and described the event as a “dry rehearsal for town meeting,” telling residents how the meeting will be run and where materials are posted. Lohr then presented Article 3, the FY2027 operating budget. He said the proposed warrant totals roughly $48.0 million and represents a 3.5% increase over the current year, noting that Host Community Agreement funds used in prior years will be exhausted after FY27 and that some services now covered by HCA funds will transition into the town’s operating budget.
“This year, the budget has a 3.5% increase from the current fiscal year,” Lohr said as he summarized key revenue sources and transfers, including taxation and enterprise transfers.
Fincom members walked through the capital plan, Article 8, which would appropriate $684,935 from free cash for 11 capital items recommended by the Capital Planning Committee. The largest items include repaving and safety work at the Veterans Memorial Building parking lot ($325,000) and school technology upgrades including a server and wireless improvements for Clyde F. Brown School. Committee members said each item was ranked through the capital planning process.
The committee also previewed a borrowing authorization under Article 9: $1,286,633 to fund a townwide water meter replacement program that officials said would install a modern fixed‑network system with three antennas to automate reads, improve billing accuracy, speed leak detection, and provide better water‑loss data. Because the article authorizes debt, it will require a two‑thirds vote at Town Meeting.
Fincom members repeatedly emphasized procedure: this meeting is an informational rehearsal, and the committee is not taking Town Meeting votes tonight because it had already completed its recommendation work in prior meetings. Lohr instructed members to read motions verbatim at Town Meeting and to use the most recent motion packet.
The session closed with routine business, including approval of an $8,769.26 printing invoice and formal approval of April 15 meeting minutes. The committee adjourned after taking questions from residents and clarifying the order and content of motion language for the formal Town Meeting.
What happens next: The items presented tonight will be decided by voters at Town Meeting on May 4; the Fincom rehearsal did not substitute for those votes.
