Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Scotland approves 2026–27 school and municipal budgets, authorizes borrowing and raises volunteer firefighter tax abatement
Summary
At its June 9, 2026 annual town meeting, Scotland voters approved the 2026–27 budgets for the elementary school and general government, adopted a five-year capital plan, authorized up to $500,000 in tax-anticipation borrowing and increased the volunteer firefighter tax abatement to $2,000.
The Scotland annual Town Meeting on June 9 approved the town’s major 2026–27 fiscal measures and several related motions, including a change to the volunteer firefighter tax abatement.
Voters approved the Scotland Elementary School/Board of Education budget and the required tax levy on the Oct. 1, 2025 grand list of $156,004,320 (motor vehicle grand list $15,098,710). The motion to adopt the school budget, made by Rob Brautigam and seconded by Clair D’Appollonio, passed 52–YES, 3–NO. Treasurer David Zito presented budget slides and later outlined the town’s revenue picture.
The meeting also approved appropriations for Town Aid monies for fiscal year 2026–27 (motion by Jen Nelson; 60–YES, 0–NO) and empowered the Board of Selectmen to borrow up to $500,000 in anticipation of tax revenue (motion by Wendy Sears; 62–YES, 0–NO).
Officials adopted the town’s Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan after a PowerPoint by Treasurer David Zito describing planned purchases including roads and bridges, the Town Hall renovation, DPW upgrades, fire department equipment and elementary school repairs. The CIP plan motion (Jennifer Nelson) carried 61–YES, 0–NO, and the 2026–27 Capital Improvement Program budget was approved on a separate motion (John Beck) 54–YES, 1–NO.
On the volunteer firefighter tax abatement, Scott Cormier, president of the Scotland Volunteer Fire Department, said the town already offers a deduction and that the ordinance under consideration would raise the benefit from $1,500 to the statutory maximum of $2,000 and would be distributed based on attendance at calls, trainings and meetings. A motion to move that question to a paper ballot failed 4–YES, 61–NO; the original motion to adopt the ordinance subsequently carried 64–YES, 3–NO.
Voters elected Chloe Reed to a three-year term on the Regional District 11 Board of Education; Ms. Reed was absent and Cassidy Martin read a statement on her behalf. The election motion carried 50–YES, 4–NO.
The General Government budget and levy were approved after presentation by Treasurer David Zito; he noted an estimated mill rate of 32.54, a 1.11 increase from the prior year. The motion to approve the general government budget carried 57–YES, 2–NO. Voters also approved the levy for Regional School District 11 on the same grand list figures (motion by Scott Sears; 50–YES, 5–NO).
The meeting had no other business and adjourned at 8:39 p.m. on a motion by Clark Stearns. The minutes were submitted by Town Clerk Sharon George.
What happens next: the adopted budgets and the capital plan set spending priorities for FY2026–27 and authorize the town’s fiscal officers to implement the approved appropriations; the Board of Selectmen may proceed with borrowing under the approved authorization if cash-flow needs arise.
