Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Select board begins FY26 budget process; capital outlay committee holds first meeting
Summary
Town staff said FY26 budget guideline materials were distributed Oct. 3 asking departments to prepare level-funded budgets (except contractual increases); administration and finance will meet department heads next week and the capital outlay committee, which met Oct. 16, will meet frequently to recommend a plan to the board.
Staff member told the select board that the FY26 budget-building process began in early October and that budget guidelines were sent to all departments on Oct. 3. “Budget guidelines were distributed on October 3 for all departments to begin building their FY26 budgets,” the staff member said. Departments were asked to prepare level-funded budgets except for contractual and other fixed-cost increases while uncertainties about utilities, insurance and benefits remain.
The finance director and staff met with the chairs of both the select board and the finance committee in late September; staff said they will meet with department heads next week to review budgets. The select board will review the town administrator's budget message on Dec. 3 and departmental budget reviews will take place in December, with the finance committee beginning its review in January.
On capital planning, administration forwarded the existing 2025 departmental capital outlay materials to the capital outlay committee. Staff said the committee held its first meeting on Oct. 16 and will meet almost weekly for the next month to review deferred and high-priority requests before presenting a recommended plan to the select board.
Next steps: administration will continue department-level budget reviews and the capital outlay committee will prepare recommended capital priorities for the board and finance committee.
