Sherman hearing: debt accounts for most of $1.5M budget increase; mil rate rises to 17.41, adjourned meeting set for April 18

Sherman’s Board of Selectmen reviewed a proposed $18,029,340 combined town and school budget for fiscal year 2026–27 at a public hearing on March 25 at Mallory Town Hall. First Selectman Don Lowe and Selectman Bob Ostrosky told residents and officials that debt service is the principal driver of the budget increase.

Ostrosky said $1.2 million of the $1.5 million total increase is attributable to debt accounts. Treasurer Andrea Maloney reported the grand list grew by 1.3% and flagged a forthcoming decision on how much to use from the town’s general fund versus applying $500,000 in bond premium to lower the tax impact.

Business Manager Liz LaVia summarized the proposed amounts: $7,934,192 for the town and $10,095,148 for the school system, for a combined total of $18,029,340 (a 9.41% increase). After applying a $660,000 General Fund surplus and $500,000 of bond premium, LaVia said the net budget figure is $16,869,340 — a 2.37% year-over-year increase that produces a mil rate of 17.41, a 4.44% rise from the prior year. LaVia added that without two capital projects (a school renovation and a new senior center), the mil rate had been projected at 17.08.

Officials also discussed program-level items. Lowe characterized the proposed increase for the Sherman Volunteer Fire Department as primarily a public-safety request intended to support around-the-clock ambulance coverage. He additionally advocated for granting the Sherman Library its requested increase, noting the library’s community role and that its recent budgets have been flat or minimally increased; the board briefly considered phasing those increases over two years.

Board of Education member Tim Laughlin reported that the school budget has been reformatted into cost centers to comply with statutory requirements, and town leaders described that reformatting as a positive update.

The Board of Selectmen said it will consider approving the budget for referral to an adjourned town meeting at its March 26 meeting. The adjourned town meeting to discuss the budget has been scheduled for April 18; a separate referendum will follow as required by town procedure.

Selectman Bob Ostrosky moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:48 p.m.; Joel Bruzinski seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Minutes were submitted on April 2, 2026.