The Spring Town Meeting for Millis, Massachusetts, held on May 5, 2025, focused primarily on the town's budget and its implications for local funding and employee wages. The meeting began with discussions surrounding the budget, which has been developed over an extended period. A key point raised was the uncertainty regarding state aid, with officials expressing optimism that the state aid figure included in the budget would remain stable, despite potential fluctuations in funding from the state.

During the meeting, a resident, Lisa Harden, requested a more detailed breakdown of the proposed $47 million budget, suggesting that it would be beneficial for the audience to understand specific allocations for areas such as general government and public safety. This request highlighted concerns about the transparency of the voting process, as many attendees found it challenging to discuss the overall budget without knowing how funds would be distributed across different departments.

Further discussions included inquiries about wage increases for town employees. John Fitzgerald raised concerns about whether the budget accounted for wage increases exceeding 3.5%. The town manager clarified that recent negotiations with all five unions resulted in cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) of 2.5%, along with potential step increases that could bring some employees' total increases to 5%. However, it was noted that the approval of collective bargaining agreements by the select board and school committee meant that voters would not have the opportunity to reject these wage increases during the budget vote.

Overall, the meeting underscored the complexities of municipal budgeting, particularly in light of state funding uncertainties and the implications of contractual obligations for town employees. The discussions set the stage for future considerations regarding budget approval and the financial management of Millis.