Town Meeting voters on Article 10 authorized annual expenditure limits for the town’s seven revolving funds, approving a total limit of $1,310,000 for fiscal year 2026.

The appropriation was presented by Finance Director Jason Little, who told meeting attendees that “Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 44, Section 53E½ requires that expenditure limits be authorized annually for the town’s revolving funds allowed by town bylaw.” He explained that revolving funds hold program revenues outside the general fund and may retain balances across fiscal years.

The Appropriations Committee recommended the article unanimously. Several residents asked detailed questions about specific revolving fund balances and how they are used. Jake Kraskoski asked whether the $750,000 line listed for the fire department was related to ambulance costs; Little replied that the largest single expense charged to the fund is debt service on ambulances and that overtime and some equipment related to ambulances are charged to the fund. Little also explained that dog-license revenue feeds the animal-control revolving fund and that the $50,000 figure represents projected incoming revenue rather than an additional line-item expense.

Other public commenters raised broader concerns about transparency and the use of revolving funds. One speaker, Michael Leonard, delivered an extended public-comment statement that criticized banking and financing generally and called for alternatives such as a public bank; his remarks were not directly about the technical details of Article 10. Moderators reminded speakers to stay on topic when addressing the motion.

After the discussion the moderator called the vote. The article passed by the simple majority required.

Officials said the $1,310,000 limit is unchanged from FY2025 and that specific fund uses — including ambulance debt service and dog-license credits to animal-control services — are recorded in town financial reports and the warrant materials for the meeting.