The Millis Finance Committee reviewed several notable articles that will appear on the town’s upcoming annual meeting warrant, including proposals to apply free cash toward Tri‑County debt, to create a rolling building‑repairs fund, and to place dozens of small, town‑owned parcels up for disposition.

Town staff explained Article 10 (Tri‑County debt payment) would apply previously set aside free cash to cover a portion of the district’s assessed debt this year; staff said the amount applied will reduce the near‑term assessment to member towns and that the town aims to stretch available resources to postpone broader funding decisions for several years. Staff said the approach should carry the town through multiple fiscal years before seeking other funding alternatives or an override, depending on future conditions.

Article 11 proposes a $300,000 building‑repairs fund intended to cover unanticipated, high‑cost repairs to older municipal buildings (town hall, middle/high school and other facilities). The finance director and select board discussed past episodes in which one‑off building failures required reserve‑fund transfers or urgent repairs; the new fund is intended to permit more timely repairs and reduce frequent requests for emergency transfer authority.

Town staff also circulated Article 50, a list of small tax‑title and unneeded municipal parcels recommended for sale or disposition. The list includes many parcels under a quarter‑acre in size and a few parcels with values in the low‑tens of thousands of dollars. Staff said the goal is to return underused property to the tax rolls and to reduce town maintenance responsibilities.

Planning and zoning items on the warrant include FEMA flood‑map updates and related zoning changes required by state and federal mapping updates. Staff and committee members discussed the need for a brief planning‑board presentation to the finance committee to explain the flood‑map and zoning language before town meeting; the planning board had been asked to review the maps and provide a recommendation.

The select board and finance committee will continue to refine warrant language and funding sources ahead of the annual meeting. No formal committee votes on articles were recorded at the April 9 session; the finance committee will finalize recommendations before the warrant is posted.