Town Finance Director Jason presented a revised FY2026 budget projection to the Select Board, explaining late adjustments that reduced the previously presented tax-impact estimate.

Key changes included removing an overlay increase after recently settled assessor cases reduced the town’s need for an overlay reserve, restructuring the fire-station borrowing after favorable bid results that lowered the town’s debt requirement, and increasing the estimated local receipts (motor-vehicle and other revenue) based on recent commitment data. Combined, those adjustments reduced the town-side tax-pressure on the average single-family residential tax bill.

Jason said the revised calculation produces an estimated average tax bill of $10,429 for FY26, an increase of $966 over the FY25 average of $9,463. The revised estimate decreases the earlier projected rise (which had been closer to $1,090) and lowers the town-budget–driven portion of the increase, in part because the firm bids on the fire station allowed lower debt-service assumptions than earlier estimates.

The finance director cautioned that the town is still using some excess levy capacity and that longer-term pressures — particularly health-insurance inflation and other commitments — mean the town could face future budget challenges. Jason reiterated that if state or local revenues change, or if grant opportunities differ from expectations, the figures could shift before the FY26 tax rate is set. The board received the financial update for publication in the Town Meeting materials.