[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6199068,"mediaKeyId","3840920-3bdf5ec18aa48b14e267173416594f31","parentId",3840920,"title","Town approves $178,000 for North Brookfield emergency squad contract and ALS services","audioSeconds",143,"startMs",2577000,"endMs",2720000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3840920-3bdf5ec18aa48b14e267173416594f31&start=2577&end=2720","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3840920-3bdf5ec18aa48b14e267173416594f31/thumbnail_2577000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6199068/Massachusetts/Town-approves-178000-for-North-Brookfield-emergency-squad-contract-and-ALS-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199068-8133714076c7bdce4bdc7e066ba9920f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176319&Signature=GBv4GBAp-5JMuGDChBVdIpkRQiKysyPqItjlziNl1Ag0TSKjyxzjkqAm278r8EXRgSNs3b4Labix47KeXekn8A8wbbppT9BlXqqDxPVZRNFoM1R1JwdsR0RxZxT1Mf46~p24vnozMLIr83krcgjFhGE1hLzET54NbMvkz80QrJRXDFDArs~SwmVEyPPaTd87qJlP~ltY30Ew6CmPuWuoxLq5Zx6Yzs9r52daRz502LpEhFEAoHBNzvc8kXNpqgMSH7HnarTFX8RU08DMEFZv47KBRLmwJ~z177Du22LmlD02svMbgLL~ELafbqEU4IIFAZcMLzB2bbKKyBo8S1imhg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of North Brookfield, MA","date","2025-06-15T20:17:19Z","article","Voters approved an appropriation totaling $178,000 to fund the North Brookfield emergency squad for fiscal 2026. The motion, as read at Town Meeting, allocated $110,000 to the emergency squad service contract account and $68,000 for ALS services.

The motion was presented and seconded and carried by majority vote after no substantive discussion was recorded. The appropriation will fund contracted emergency-response services for the coming fiscal year.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","North Brookfield Town Meeting June 13th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Voters approved $178,000 in appropriations for the North Brookfield emergency squad: $110,000 for the service contract and $68,000 for advanced life-support (ALS) services for fiscal 2026.","taxTitle","Town of North Brookfield, Worcester County, Massachusetts","taxId",54736,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6199072,"North Brookfield approves water and sewer budgets; officials clarify who pays sewer debt",205,1945000,2150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3840920-3bdf5ec18aa48b14e267173416594f31&start=1945&end=2150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3840920-3bdf5ec18aa48b14e267173416594f31/thumbnail_1945000.jpg","/articles/6199072/Massachusetts/North-Brookfield-approves-water-and-sewer-budgets-officials-clarify-who-pays-sewer-debt","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199072-4f05a230d96a8ad132a9df5639d48279/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176319&Signature=FJBCZb2hyXyHCxubIiOJbjgtHTL0ozh8r3BXaEaGd5vP8Vp9naOpDRXAjUAZ~CTRHwdl7MNGUZjMqM23XxANvEY8rR09g5mbqj3Ow4230nvcUIv6mav3fvkDhYJUGpN0LThD1UaknRS64CGBqsyeSeZRPqve-MQnx-93hfY9~Ruuw~wR7Qdq-rO3~4BRZ8DZ99Ki0UvaCPMYE05o3GplIm9swpt3gFihfgb7x2mWLaKSU7mhjTo0w3xb6GBHQWW138ThUmpHYk7GM71HVWMJWC0Ij29axunkNUlkUTzk6cs~ABm-GOu9BfBleqZgtrbLNMu7aXVHMb~GUQQI7JkhjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Meeting voters approved the fiscal 2026 water and sewer enterprise budgets under Massachusetts General Law chapter 44, section 53F\\u00BD, authorizing operations for the coming fiscal year.

The water department budget was approved as presented (Article 4) with a total motion amount of $809,897. The sewer department budget (Article 5) was approved with a total including transfers of $1,349,522.75, as read during the meeting.

Residents asked for clarification about the sewer debt line items on the warrant. One resident asked how the smaller sewer debt entries differ from the larger wastewater treatment plant borrowing. Town officials explained that the upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant was financed in part by a USDA final borrowing and that the plant upgrade borrowing was split between the tax base and sewer users. The town accountant clarified that the entries labeled as \"sewer debt\" on the sewer budget page reflect debts that are the responsibility of sewer users rather than of the general tax base.

The moderator called voice/hand votes for each motion and announced they passed by majority.","Voters approved the fiscal 2026 water and sewer enterprise budgets. Town officials explained that some wastewater treatment plant debt was financed with USDA funds and that certain sewer debts are charged only to sewer users.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":42,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6199073,"North Brookfield to seek special act to publish legal notices on town website; officials say abutters still get mailed notices",2753000,2896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3840920-3bdf5ec18aa48b14e267173416594f31&start=2753&end=2896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3840920-3bdf5ec18aa48b14e267173416594f31/thumbnail_2753000.jpg","/articles/6199073/Massachusetts/North-Brookfield-to-seek-special-act-to-publish-legal-notices-on-town-website-officials-say-abutters-still-get-mailed-notices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199073-91e3aca1b6cd692664ca5f54e8bc6576/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176319&Signature=JeDxp~4CusRP0FOyKGqMSRWpjp5trIXaCX0~xueuXKq8aj6pUMUTrKYwk90SPtBdpbgPypJEsIsIIJC~WE6WbEULnXTH--05X9shPpbdVVjzG743CGo4593yY4AoJzLxjR3fawnz1ZLNybRUYICATXj6c~gTlm-AcHAu4ZLw56yGgFWjuvZcPskP1Oax5qH5IMhZBLfNnUDml~MX~MBcmsQgz1ZYBSd2bTuSmS2C5FP68BmYuhSj2MieHEpG~Ic1zE6XlunoLrmLE7~JYSZjoZ6EdbneXjCewykUUlHGn5UNCVhnejqH2PbWLRQhOKZ6cfD52QmOQPRmiEer3yyMVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of North Brookfield voted to authorize the Board of Selectmen to petition the Massachusetts General Court for a special law allowing the town to post legal notices on a dedicated page of the town website in place of paid publication in a local newspaper.

Town Clerk Tara Hayes said the change would produce savings: \"Right now, the town has to spend money for legal notices ... We can now save money ... There's going to be a special page on our website for legal notices, rather than in the paper,\" she told voters. She added that abutters to affected properties would still receive mailed notices for matters such as public hearings on road work.

Residents asked how the change would affect people without internet access. Clerk Hayes said abutters would continue to get mailed notices when required, and that the proposal follows a model other Massachusetts towns have used under a special legislative authorization. Officials estimated the town currently spends on the order of about $1,000 per year on legal notices, with individual poll-hearing notices previously costing about $164 in the local paper, figures read aloud during the meeting.

Voters approved the motion authorizing the Board of Selectmen to petition the legislature for the special act.","Voters authorized the Board of Selectmen to petition the state legislature for a special act allowing the town to post legal notices on a dedicated page of the town website instead of paying for publication in a local paper.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6199074,"North Brookfield establishes and limits revolving funds for public health, records and other services",567,3044000,3611000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3840920-3bdf5ec18aa48b14e267173416594f31&start=3044&end=3611","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3840920-3bdf5ec18aa48b14e267173416594f31/thumbnail_3044000.jpg","/articles/6199074/Massachusetts/North-Brookfield-establishes-and-limits-revolving-funds-for-public-health-records-and-other-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199074-b1e28e0894253752dbc484dcb8863729/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176319&Signature=HuVz~uL0jgd7L6w5YQc3GeeB7EjIoL6YYoMBgulZgsbt6BU5RqKdEkhD40in5LNTWKJxLoC2jtQ-8EG9JUWh6kjoOu8jN9oNI27B4BbmQzKl-YZXK473YFmKzLhqtzgRJoLvQlCWNxHmkLzbhX5lJL-zMzwSnJYRK7efYXl8FR8ZM4yn69JPAhSmK1XcW3tzKwqEUb9ZpzfbRVDlDdBQAzLURPuuZcFGmC99l0LbN0i9OSUMehWNGmSdauW-Rfzlu4gIqqbREjR3qlG3D3yLDpD8zo~7JK1W4F87kM3QKT-2Hu09YIwiNWMvVnPJVxzsulVKLfhwN2rmafQcTZ5blg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Voters at the Town of North Brookfield annual meeting approved bylaw changes and spending limits to manage several local revolving funds, including a new tobacco-control fund and a records-request fund for the police department.

The meeting adopted a bylaw authorizing a tobacco control revolving fund under the town's general bylaws and Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44 subsection 53E\\u00BD. A Board of Health representative explained the fund is intended to receive revenue from tobacco-sales violations and to pay for inspectional and tobacco-prevention programs when grant funding is not available.

Separately, voters added a records-request revolving fund for use by the police department under chapter 44 subsection 53E\\u00BD. The bylaw specifies that fees charged and received by the police department for public-records requests will be credited to a separate account and may be used to pay for staff time, media devices, postage and related costs. Officials said the proposed spending authority for the police records-request fund for fiscal 2026 is $250.

The meeting also set FY26 spending limits for a list of revolving accounts (as printed in the warrant). Notable fiscal limits approved included: Board of Health trash bags $35,000; Board of Health vacant properties $25,000; Board of Health tobacco control $25,000; Council on Aging $15,000; Cemetery $15,000; electrical permits $15,000; and a $250 spending cap for the police records-request fund. Town staff and committee representatives explained that the limits are maximum annual expenditures from each revolving fund and that funds can only be spent when revenues exist in the accounts.

Voters approved the bylaw changes and spending limits; the tobacco-control and records-request bylaw changes required a two-thirds vote and were carried at the meeting.","Voters added a tobacco-control revolving fund and a police records-request revolving fund to the town bylaws, and set fiscal 2026 spending limits for a set of existing revolving accounts under M.G.L. chapter 44 provisions.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6199075,"North Brookfield approves $15 million general operating budget; stabilization and long-term debt discussed",831,1172000,2003000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3840920-3bdf5ec18aa48b14e267173416594f31&start=1172&end=2003","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3840920-3bdf5ec18aa48b14e267173416594f31/thumbnail_1172000.jpg","/articles/6199075/Massachusetts/North-Brookfield-approves-15-million-general-operating-budget-stabilization-and-long-term-debt-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6199075-77ecb3742e3c117c01f17d1ef4875e70/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129873&Signature=RUxyJLYl38j6N4DcuDkthYuopKl~erNVvRubXG0dsSDjHhure~7tJiBeJoL6O4T~lrcx4CZpKT68cGJYh1hTmP~W~8lH4ahvXkIkivq6bvfvhoqFnAacySa~33Y0Hql5ITGm0bkBs59IhAzbDUeGnidurfRDu98xjv94x4o2TqGeBlWFqyZ2V0hrZxMDJYHOpaliYVIPH9Njglex2lTm8-Vu7EHAt6iaHcuC8lyhvAkWXo5hsVx5oNToIFw651Df6dgamOJgDDIM5xC7Z13~sMJET4ESs3~wvedClW10v4BZK8AliysGcWxc6htzLYQlt~XwVIAFiqiYKil9srgCoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","North Brookfield voters approved the town's fiscal 2026 general operating budget, voting to raise and appropriate a total of $15,000,004.63 for the 12-month period beginning July 1, 2025.

The approval came after Finance Committee members and town officials reviewed line items, explained the town's stabilization balance and answered residents' questions about debt maturing on multiple town projects. \"The finance committee has reviewed all the articles, as well as the budget for fiscal 26. And we are in agreement with the budget that is being presented tonight by the Board of Selectmen,\" a finance committee representative told the meeting.

The budget was presented in four separate motions covering (1) administrative and central charges; (2) public safety and inspectors; (3) the school department; and (4) highway and other municipal departments. The first motion included transfers from Stabilization ($298,995.47) and Free Cash ($90,000) for group insurance and set the combined total for the general fund operating budget at $15,000,004.63.

Town Accountant Sheila LeBlanc provided the current Stabilization balance in response to resident questions, saying the balance was approximately $1,000,003.64 (figure read at the meeting). Residents asked whether the town should maintain a target balance; LeBlanc said the town's financial advisor recommends maintaining about $1 million in Stabilization to preserve borrowing ratings for future capital projects.

Several residents asked about the schedule for outstanding debt tied to school, wastewater and other projects. The town accountant described which borrowings are paid from the tax base and which are sewer-user obligations, and said the town had used a USDA final borrowing for the wastewater treatment plant upgrade. Officials identified a mix of bond anticipation notes that require annual re-borrowing until final borrowing is completed. Town officials responded that the schedule of final maturities and some line-item dates were available in meeting materials but were read aloud with numeric transcription artifacts during the meeting.

The meeting recorded votes approving each motion (majority or two-thirds as required by the specific motion). No specific roll-call tallies were provided in the public read-aloud; the moderator called the voice/hand votes and announced each motion passed.

Budget watchers pressed officials on long-term affordability and the practice of using Stabilization and Free Cash for operating costs; officials reiterated that some transfers were planned and that longer-term borrowing will be used for capital projects as appropriate.","Voters at the Town of North Brookfield annual meeting approved the fiscal 2026 general operating budget totaling $15,000,004.63 and raised questions about the town's stabilization balance and long-term debt schedule.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Town approves $178,000 for North Brookfield emergency squad contract and ALS services

North Brookfield approves water and sewer budgets; officials clarify who pays sewer debt

North Brookfield to seek special act to publish legal notices on town website; officials say abutters still get mailed notices

North Brookfield establishes and limits revolving funds for public health, records and other services

North Brookfield approves $15 million general operating budget; stabilization and long-term debt discussed