Norfolk County opens FY2027 budget hearing; public draft still about $2 million out of balance

The Norfolk County Commissioners opened a public hearing on the county's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget on March 11, 2026. Director John Cronin told the board the public‑hearing version posted online is “over $2 million out of balance” and that staff are continuing to reconcile department requests against available revenue.

“Currently, the public hearing budget … is over $2 million out of balance,” Director Cronin said, and he told commissioners he expects to deliver a balanced budget on March 28 after further work with department heads. The commissioners followed the statutorily required public‑hearing procedure under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 35, Section 28 and opened the floor for comment; no members of the public spoke in person, and no substantive comments were offered via Zoom.

Commissioners and staff described the public hearing as a step in an ongoing cycle of budget review: departments have submitted requests, the fiscal team is modeling revenues, and supplemental transfer needs must be submitted by March 25 for advisory‑board consideration at the April 15 meeting. Director Cronin said the public‑hearing document reflects department asks to date and is typically adjusted before a balanced budget is presented.

Next steps set by the board: the hearing was formally closed and continued until the balanced budget is delivered on March 28. Commissioners agreed staff will incorporate public input (if received) and department clarifications before finalizing recommendations for the advisory board and subsequent vote.