Council Cuts $1.07M from FY2027 Budget After First Referendum Fails; Second Vote Set for June 2
Regular Meeting
Summarized by: claude-sonnet-4-6 | Date: 2026-05-18
- Total FY2027 general fund expenditures reduced by $1,065,500 to $158,337,500 following failed referendum
- Board of Education budget reduced by $350,000 to $93,364,280; motion to cut $1,000,000 failed 4-5
- General Services cut by $655,500, including $485,590 from capital spending, $100,000 from OPEB contributions, and $35,000 from open space
- Safety Services reduced by $60,000 by shifting one police cruiser to private duty account; motion to add two new officers withdrawn after discussion of existing vacancies
- Current tax levy reduced by $1,710,500 to $133,194,060
- Second budget referendum set for June 2, 2026; proposal to add advisory 'Goldilocks' questions to ballot failed 4-5
- Garden Street parcel purchase did not pass at earlier special meeting; road diet will not return for a vote
- $459,783.97 in uncollectible motor vehicle and personal property taxes transferred to suspense book
- Public hearing on Neighborhood Assistance Act tax credit applications set for June 1, 2026
After the first budget referendum failed, the Council made targeted reductions across the Board of Education, General Services, and Safety Services budgets, cutting a combined $1,065,500 from the previously adopted FY2027 budget. The largest single cut was $485,590 from capital spending within General Services. A motion to cut the Board of Education budget by $1,000,000 rather than $350,000 failed narrowly. A proposal to add nonbinding advisory questions to the June 2 referendum ballot also failed. Residents speaking during public comment were divided, with some urging deeper cuts to ease tax burdens and others warning against reductions that would weaken services and deter future investment. The second referendum is scheduled for June 2, 2026, with revised budget figures to be published beforehand.