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Town manager's office outlines $122.1 million in covered spending, legal costs cited as major driver
Summary
At the July 13 Finance Committee meeting the town manager's office reviewed its responsibilities and metrics, reporting an operating budget of about $122,100,000 (including shared services) and $3.6 million in grants received in fiscal 2026; legal expenses and litigation were noted as significant cost items.
The Finance Committee heard an overview of the Town Manager’s Office on July 13 as department staff outlined responsibilities, staffing and recent accomplishments ahead of the fall budget process. The presenter described five core duties — executive leadership, advising the select board, budget oversight and procurement, departmental oversight and governance support — and said the office administers an operating budget of about $122,100,000 when shared services and enterprise funds are included.
“We support every select board meeting, prepare agenda materials and coordinate and implement board actions,” the town manager’s office presenter said, and noted the office tracks grant activity: “we have $3,600,000 worth of grants that were received by the town in fiscal 26.” The presenter also flagged legal spending as a major line item, citing general counsel and litigation expenses, including the town’s 651 Lowell Road case.
The presentation stressed the manager’s role in long-range financial planning and that the CFO manages day-to-day financial operations while final administration of the budget rests with the town manager’s office. Committee members sought clarification on how shared-service costs were represented in the operating-total figure; the presenter said earlier slide versions omitted roughly $30 million in shared services and that the updated figure includes those amounts.
Why it matters: the operating-total and the breakdown between general fund, shared services and enterprise funds determine the town’s budget priorities and the amount of funding available for capital needs and service levels. Committee members asked that future materials provide more detailed drivers of spending so the committee can better prepare for October’s formal budget discussions.
The committee did not take any budget votes; presenters asked committee members to route follow-up questions to staff ahead of the finance committee’s fall work sessions.
