Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board of Finance asks BOE for $69,477 reduction, forwards Selectmen budget to April 24 hearing
Summary
At its March 31 special meeting the Sharon Board of Finance voted to ask the Board of Education for a $69,477 reduction (to achieve a zero-percent increase), kept tuition receipts in the Town budget, and forwarded the Board of Selectmen’s proposed 2026–27 budget to an April 24 public hearing.
Vice Chairman Fowler called a special meeting of the Sharon Board of Finance to order at 4:30 p.m. on March 31. The board reviewed the Board of Selectmen’s proposed 2026–27 operating budget page by page; First Selectman Flanagan highlighted limited changes, including receipts, tuition, and interest on a temporary loan.
The BOF discussed placing a Selectman’s salary in the budget but not expending it, and moving that line to Miscellaneous to maintain accounting transparency. The board also asked Flanagan to explore whether the Town can resolve its responsibility for the Amenia Landfill through a financial settlement. Board members noted that tuition payments had historically been posted to the General Fund as Miscellaneous Income; the Board of Education requested credit for that income in fiscal 2026–27. Mr. Hecht moved that tuition funds remain in the Town budget; Ms. Flaton seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Dr. O’Reilly reviewed the Board of Education’s Eighth Draft of the proposed 2026–27 budget, and Region 1 Business Manager Herrick reported a $15,152 reduction tied to anticipated personnel health-insurance changes. After reviewing questions submitted to the BOE, the BOF considered its options: accept the BOE request and set a spending amount to send to the hearing, or instruct the BOE to make specific reductions.
Mr. Hecht moved that the BOF ask the BOE to return with a zero-percent-increase budget. The motion (seconded by Ms. Flaton) carried 5–1 (Fowler, Hecht, Flaton, Bartram and Pastre in favor; Ms. Clare opposed). Mr. Hecht then moved to amend that request to specify a $69,477 reduction in the Sharon BOE’s proposed 2026–27 budget to achieve a zero-percent increase; the amendment (seconded by Ms. Flaton) carried (in favor 5; Ms. Clare abstained). The BOF noted that proposed budgets must be available to the public by April 16 and that, after the April 24 hearing, the BOF will vote on the budget amount to send to Town Meeting on May 8.
The board also voted to forward the Board of Selectmen’s proposed 2026–27 budget to the public hearing on April 24 with the net effect of handling the Selectman’s salary through a Miscellaneous line (motion by Ms. Flaton, seconded by Mrs. Pastre; unanimous). The BOF reiterated that its role is to set a spending amount while the BOE determines internal allocation of funds.
The meeting adjourned at 6:56 p.m.
