The Town Council on Tuesday night voted 10-2 in favor of a $184.5 million operating budget for fiscal year 2027, a 1.9% rise over current spending. (All budget documents can be found here.)
Notably, the figure came down by $758,000 in Board of Education expenses after district officials updated healthcare cost projections based on recently received March 2026 actual claims (a reduction from about $1.9 million in March 2025 to $1.7 million this year). In addition—following strong opposition from local merchants—the Town Council removed $90,774 in capital spending that had been earmarked for eight additional parking meters downtown (on Main Street). The legislative body’s chair, Mike Mauro, said nearly all merchants voiced opposition to the additional meters “based on the negative impact it had on their businesses.”
“So I think we as a body like to be responsive to the needs of the community when they arise—like leafblowers is one of them, that is certainly something we are responding to and continue to vet,” Mauro said during the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “So on that one, everyone can state their mind but I think it’s wise just to press pause at this time and have a further review and discussion on that [the parking meters].
