Selectmen propose 3.65% FY2026-27 budget; presentation cites 0.53 mill illustrative increase

The Board of Selectmen's FY2026-27 budget presentation, delivered during the Board of Finance's April 21 special meeting, proposed a total town budget of $32,322,089, a 3.65% increase over the previous year.

Joe Bellavance presented the package and explained several major drivers: a Board of Education request of $24,867,583 (+4.48%); Fire Facilities spending rising 30.8% to $782,155; Parks & Recreation increases; and a proposed Town Administrator position budgeted at $130,000. The Board of Selectmen's BOS operating budget line was shown at $5,781,076, an increase of $233,111 (about 4.32%).

Slides detailed revenue and expenditure tables and an illustrative mill-rate effect: the presentation estimated a 0.53-mill increase (from 23.28 to about 23.81), which the slides converted into an example tax change of approximately $132 annually for a $250,000 assessed property. The capital outlay line was reduced in the proposal to $171,842 (a large decrease from the previous request), and the capital committee approved selected equipment replacements while postponing or denying some larger items.

The presentation also listed town-supported nonprofits and contracted services (including East Brooklyn Fire Department and Mortlake Ambulance Services) and itemized changes in staffing costs: the slide set reported a year-over-year total salary cost increase of about $183,107.50.

A public hearing on the proposed budget was scheduled for May 4, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at Brooklyn Middle School Auditorium, where the public may review and comment on the full proposal.