Millis Finance Committee approves $355,500 in FY2026 interdepartmental transfers

The Millis Finance Committee unanimously approved $355,500 in FY2026 interdepartmental transfers at its July 8, 2026 meeting to cover shortfalls in several departments.

Jody Kersey, head of finance, told the committee the largest driver was public safety, which “we were running about 245,000 in a deficit,” citing wages for on-call fire coverage, shift coverage, police overtime and dispatch wages. Kersey said public works faced about $49,000 in shortfalls tied to salaries, retiree payouts and overtime, and smaller deficits showed in health and human services and culture and recreation. Overall, she said, the transfers balanced the year-end budget without harming the town’s overall position.

Kersey said the transfers total $355,500 and would be funded by moving $185,500 from employee benefits and $170,000 from debt service. She also noted state assessments and additional state aid affected some line items.

Chair Michael Kron asked whether the DPW snow-clearing deficit would be covered through transfers. Kersey said the committee did not use interdepartmental transfers for that deficit this year and that the town would record the amount on the tax-rate recap (free cash) prior to certification.

Committee member Brett Hausler asked whether the compensated-absences reserve (Article 22 from spring town meeting) had been used; Kersey said the reserve still held about $100,000 and that unanticipated retiree payouts would be paid from that reserve going forward.

Committee member Pete Perubi moved to approve the listed transfers and identified the line-by-line amounts; Heidi Gilmore seconded. The committee voted unanimously to approve the motion.

After the vote the committee signed the paperwork. Chair Kron said he did not expect another meeting before September.