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Board of Finance sends $69.24 million spending plan and 28.29 mill rate to April 2 town meeting
Summary
The board voted to forward recommended town expenditures totaling $69,240,115 — including a $42,115,139 board of education bottom line — and a proposed mill rate of 28.29 to the annual town meeting on April 2 after several motions and recorded opposition from two members.
The Board of Finance voted to send the town’s recommended fiscal year 2025–26 spending plan to the annual town meeting on April 2, approving motions that move several component budgets and a proposed mill rate for voter consideration.
Board member Kristen moved to forward the combined town expenditures, including the board of education, totaling $69,240,115; the motion was seconded by Carol and carried after dissent was recorded from Bev and Betty Anne. Earlier motions to move town expenditures of $27,124,976 and to forward the Board of Education bottom line of $42,115,139 were also approved; the Board of Education figure was explicitly recorded as opposed by Bev and Betty Anne during that vote.
The board also voted to send the town revenues figure of $69,240,115 and a recommended mill rate of 28.29 for consideration at the April 2 town meeting. The motions were made and seconded on the record and carried, with opposition noted in several instances.
The chair called the votes after brief deliberations. Several board members said they had raised proposals during internal deliberations but that majority rule determined which proposals were advanced to the town meeting. Bev told colleagues she believed the mill rate was too high and said she feared the proposal could fail; that opposition was recorded during roll calls on multiple motions.
No additional policy details, amendments, or spending reallocations were adopted at the meeting; these votes were procedural steps to place recommended figures before the town meeting and refer final approval to voters.
What happens next: The recommended budgets and the mill rate will appear on the agenda of the annual town meeting on April 2, where town meeting voters will decide whether to adopt them. The board did not adopt any changes that would alter the recommended totals before sending them to the meeting.
