Financials & Expenditures

The Finance Committee approved a reserve fund transfer request, not to exceed $32,500, for the Fire Department to repair the Tower One truck. The interim Town Manager suggested this amount to cover potential unforeseen elements beyond the lowest bid.

Three bids were received for the repair: Bulldog at $45,860.54, Greenwood at $46,422.07, and Fleet Maintenance at $29,627.27.

The committee voted to award the contract to Fleet Maintenance LLC, a local Middleboro company located at 188 East Grove Street, based on their May 6, 2026 estimate. Fleet Maintenance provided a detailed quote, performed an on-site inspection at North Fire Station, and identified that the pump was improperly installed from the manufacturer.

The motion specified that any amount not used from the approved $32,500 would be returned to the original account.

Regarding the FY27 budget, the committee received the Senate’s version of the Cherry Sheets, noting a slight increase for the school department and some positive impacts for the town, though specific figures were not detailed.

Zoning & Planning

No notable items.

Resident Action & Public Hearings

An IT representative is expected to attend a future Finance Committee meeting, hopefully before July, to discuss email communication practices and procedures. This aims to establish a clear, consistent, and transparent process for committee communications and public access.

A future meeting is posted for the Finance Committee to discuss the FY27 budget with the Town Manager, but a specific date was not announced.

The Hidden News

Finance Committee members discussed ways to improve their involvement in the budget process, aiming to be engaged throughout the entire cycle rather than joining midway. The Chair plans to create a “toolbox” of key elements for FY27 budget planning.

Several committee members and a resident emphasized the importance of accurate revenue forecasting, particularly for local receipts, which were a significant factor in past budget issues. Suggestions were made for the Finance Director to provide the committee with monthly reports and to brief them quarterly after her meetings with department heads.

There was extensive discussion about the town’s property tax billing cycle. Currently, taxes are billed semi-annually. Billing quarterly, as many communities do, could improve the town’s cash flow, but concerns were raised about increased administrative workload and costs (paper, postage, printing) for the Treasurer/Collector’s department.

A past suggestion for a voluntary early-pay discount (e.g., 5% off for paying a full year’s tax bill upfront) or an extended-pay option (quarterly payments with a 5% fee) was revisited. The early-pay option could benefit cash-flush residents and the town’s cash infusion, while the extended-pay option could help residents budget, especially around the Christmas season.

A resident suggested a hybrid approach for departmental oversight:

• Keep existing liaison positions to maintain institutional knowledge.
• Schedule 2-3 department heads to meet with the full Finance Committee each month, rotating departments so each is seen quarterly but not all at once.
• Ensure incoming liaisons are briefed by their predecessors.