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Georgetown Solid Waste panel approves $249,614 budget for 2026–27 as pay questions remain
Summary
The Georgetown Solid Waste Management Committee approved a $249,614 budget for 2026–27, noting a 3% Select Board-approved COLA that raises the salary line to $88,331 and a request from the financial director for $1.50–$2.00/hour raises that could add $3,000–$4,000 to payroll costs.
The Georgetown Solid Waste Management Committee approved a $249,614 budget for fiscal year 2026–27 at its March 12 meeting, while flagging unresolved hourly-pay questions for transfer station employees.
The budget reflects a 1.4% increase over the prior year and incorporates a 3% cost-of-living adjustment approved by the Select Board, which, Terry Taylor, Financial Advisory Committee representative, said raises the solid-waste salary line to $88,331. Taylor also reported that Financial Director Mary McDonald asked the Select Board to consider $1.50–$2.00 per hour raises for transfer station employees, which Taylor estimated would add about $3,000–$4,000 to the salary line if adopted.
Committee members asked for comparisons of transfer station pay with neighboring towns; Kathy Gravino, the Select Board representative, said the Select Board asked Mary McDonald to provide area pay-rate comparisons because current transfer station pay is not comparable with nearby towns. The committee did not change the budget to incorporate any additional hourly increases and noted the final salary total will depend on Select Board action.
Committee members also adjusted operating-line items before voting. Alison Freeman said the committee had received notice from Ideal that porta-potty rental rose to $170 per month; after accounting for mowing and other costs, members moved to increase the General Operations line to $3,000 and then approved that change by vote. The proposed equipment reserve fund was left at the amount already included in the draft (committee members noted $6,000 was proposed), and the Household Hazardous Waste line was reduced after several years of rising collections leveled off.
Alison Freeman moved to accept the overall solid-waste budget of $249,614; Dave (David) Polito seconded the motion, and the measure passed unanimously.
Routine expenditures were also approved: the committee accepted the Ideal porta-potty invoice and approved payment of an $84 bill from Firesafe Equipment Inc for a fire-extinguisher inspection.
The committee expects the final budget numbers to be affected only if the Select Board adopts additional hourly pay increases; otherwise, the approved $249,614 will be forwarded as the committee’s recommendation.
