Finance Committee Backs $386,289 Override Question

Finance Committee · Meeting of June 17, 2026

Paxton's Finance Committee voted to send a $386,289 override question to voters, covering restored police, fire, legal and tree services. The five members present unanimously recommended all six special town meeting warrant articles set for June 22, including a $1.4 million USDA water main loan and a fiscal 2027 balanced budget of $8,015,117. Fire Chief Mike reported a $21,772 payroll overage from injuries, departures and an unusual run of calls, including a 33-student carbon monoxide scare and a winter water rescue, pushing the committee to approve six year-end transfers totaling $39,714.

Members debated whether recommending the override article meant endorsing it, with one saying, "I think the finance committee was in favor of giving the voters an option." The panel also nominated David Bloom to the new Anna Maria College Transition Advisory Committee and floated an outside study of the police department after a report found its budget share nearly 70 percent above comparable towns.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,968 words

Source: the Finance Committee meeting of June 17, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.