SELECT BOARD REVIEWS FY27 BUDGET WITH SIGNIFICANT DEFICITS
Select Board reviewed fiscal 2027 budget projecting significant municipal and school deficits.
DocumentCenter · Meeting of February 9, 2026
NORTH READING — Select Board reviewed fiscal 2027 budget projecting significant municipal and school deficits. Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto reported FY26 new growth of $2.4 million against projected FY27 new growth of $1.089 million, with state aid rising approximately 2 percent but shared fixed costs increasing due to higher regional school assessments and updated debt service for the Chestnut Street Bridge. The Board acknowledged severe financial pressure and likely noticeable cuts, citing multiple vacant positions and large trash contract increases.
In other votes, the Board approved a change of ownership for Lobster Claw Seafoods at 3 Main Street, continued the flammable storage hearing for BPREP to February 23, approved legal bills of $11,846.75, and appointed Stephen Hemman to the Library Trustees and Sebastian Masiello to the Transportation Committee.
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Source: the DocumentCenter meeting of February 9, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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