Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Adoption topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Canton approves FY2027 operating budget, Rink, sewer and water enterprise funds; stormwater bylaw amendment adopted
Summary
Town meeting approved Article 48 budget motions totaling a $153,365,031 FY2027 operating budget, carried several enterprise fund appropriations, adopted a stormwater permitting bylaw amendment (Article 32) and approved a $25,000 July 4 appropriation (Article 16).
Canton town meeting approved the town’s FY2027 operating budget and several related motions, adopted an amendment to stormwater permitting authority and approved a small appropriation for the Fourth of July celebration.
Emilio, chair of the finance committee, presented Article 48 and its component motions. Motion 1 transferred $5,997,203 from available funds into the general fund to help cover operating expenses; the motion carried on voice vote. Motion 2, a two-thirds-required transfer of $183,083 from the Galvin Middle School capital stabilization account to pay debt service on a bond anticipation note, was presented and declared approved. Motion 3 set salaries and compensation for certain elected officials for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026; the motion was adopted by majority vote. Motion 4 set the School Department appropriation at $62,175,614 for FY2027 and carried.
The finance committee read municipal department appropriations totaling $30,958,783 and fixed costs and other transfers totaling $40,591,510; both were approved as presented. The meeting also approved enterprise fund appropriations for the Rink ($488,168), Sewer ($8,378,001) and Water ($10,772,955). Emilio moved that the total operating budget for FY2027 — combining school, municipal, fixed costs and the three enterprise funds — be $153,365,031; the motion carried on voice vote.
Separately, the finance committee moved Article 32, an amendment to the general bylaws to shift certain stormwater permitting authority from the Conservation Commission to the Department of Public Works or designated DPW agents and to establish major and minor permit categories. The committee said the change aims to streamline permitting while preserving public health and environmental protections; the article was adopted by majority vote.
The meeting also approved Article 16, a $25,000 appropriation from free cash to fund the town’s July 4 community celebration, noting that part of the event’s cost will be covered by prior-year funds. The finance director, Randy Scollins, was recognized by the moderator and finance committee for his years of service ahead of his retirement.
All motions and votes reported in the transcript are recorded as voice votes; the transcript does not provide roll-call tallies for most items.
