FY27 Capital Plan
At a glance
- What: the FY27 capital plan, funded mostly from Free Cash.
- Where it stands: voted. Article 4 of the October 19 Special Town Meeting appropriated the capital items in four motions, all adopted.
- Next: purchases proceed under the town's procurement rules.
- Related: Free Cash Certification, Special Town Meeting Warrant - October 19, 2026.
Capital plan changes
- Police parking lot out (the $75K engineering item).
- $500K senior center study in.
- Stabilization transfers $100K/$50K.
- Water/sewer: $25K sewer office renovation added.
Financial targets
- Debt planning at 4-5%.
- Target tax increase
3.5% ($180 for an average single-family home); ~$2M unused excess levy capacity.
Town meeting results (October 19, 2026)
- Motion 1 (adopted 290-65): $50,000 grant match and planning, a South Charlton Reservoir hydrologic analysis (corrected from the floor to $15,000), $50,000 municipal building improvements (HVAC repairs at Town Hall and the health building), $80,000 technology, $40,000 library carpeting.
- Motion 2 (adopted 261-86): $275,000 police cruisers (about three, with equipment).
- Motion 3 (adopted 287-69): $110,000 fire pickup, $100,000 Forestry 1 refurbishment, $61,000 ambulance receipts for an EMS car cardiac monitor.
- Motion 4 (adopted 280-70): $140,000 bucket-lift pickup, $300,000 excavator with mower, $50,000 wood chipper, $24,000 cemetery paving, $8,000 tractor accessories (Free Cash) and $25,000 sewer plant office renovations (sewer retained earnings).
Sources
- 2026-10-19 - Special Town Meeting (vote counts and discussion)
- Select Board Pre-Town Meeting - October 19, 2026 (citizen guide with the warrant text)
Discussion time
About 15 minutes across 2 meetings (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-19 - Special Town Meeting | 13 |
| 2026-09-16 - Finance Committee Meeting | 2 |
Log
- 2026-10-19 - Special Town Meeting — Article 4 adopted in four motions (290-65, 261-86, 287-69, 280-70); reservoir analysis amount corrected from the floor to $15,000.
- 2026-09-16 - Finance Committee Meeting — Capital plan revised after the Select Board heard the senior center consultants.