Middlesex projects nearly flat FY2027 revenues, weighs use of fund balance

County Administrator Matthew L. Walker presented preliminary FY2027 revenue projections and cautioned the board that state decisions on school and social-services funding could materially change the county’s numbers. He said "overall County revenues are projected to remain relatively flat, with an estimated increase of approximately 0.19%, while operating revenues are projected to decrease by approximately $110,000 (0.32%)." Walker noted the draft budget follows Board direction to avoid raising taxes and limit use of fund balance.

Walker told the Board that the prior year used about $200,000 in fund balance to balance the budget and that the current draft proposes allocating roughly $406,000 in debt-service savings to fund balance for future capital projects rather than operating expenses. He described adjustments already made in the draft — removal of funding for an additional Commonwealth’s Attorney position, a reduced Regional Jail allocation and staffing-transition savings in County Administration — and said the draft currently funds one Bay Transit bus instead of two. Supervisors discussed service levels and the challenge of maintaining staffing amid rising personnel costs.