The Select Board conducted Fiscal Year 2026 Budget and Capital Meetings with the heads of the technology services, fire, police, and public safety communications departments at its meeting Feb. 5. “Our goal here is to understand the overall budget for each of the departments and where the concerns might lie,” Select Board Chair Brian Herr said.
Director of Information Technology & Innovation Services Josh Grossetti presented a FY26 operating budget request of $1,245,3838 recommended by the Town Manager for the Information Technology Department. This is a 7.3% increase from the FY25 budget and represents less than 1.1% of the town’s proposed total operating budget.
The department is currently preserving its existing service level while simultaneously implementing two significant administrative changes. These modifications include introducing a new licensing fee for a time and attendance tracking module within the town’s financial system and exploring a potential transition to a different payroll service provider, according to Grossetti’s statement.
Grossetti also presented two Capital requests for the FY26 budget — $56,950 for an End-User Computer Hardware Refresh and $8,000 to replace aging multi-function printers.
Fire Chief Gary Daugherty presented a FY26 operating budget request of $4,103,358.18, which is broken down by salaries, overtime, building repair and maintenance, gasoline, miscellaneous contracted services, and personal protective equipment. Full time salaries account for 92% of the proposed budget, totaling in $3,360,538.83. He noted that the salary increase from FY25 to FY26 represents two years’ worth of (raises) step increases.
Daugherty presented the Fire Department’s Capital requests, which include $38,925.11 for respiratory ventilators and $110,000 for upgrades to the bathrooms in living quarters at the station. The funding for the ventilators will come from the Ambulance Receipt Reserved Account. The bathrooms will see a total rehabilitation to upgrade plumbing and electrical and provide new tiles and fixtures. This is an upgrade to the 1997 renovations to the station.
Police Department’s Communications Director, Meaghan DeRaad, presented the cost of a multi-year capital project to upgrade the Public Safety Communications radio infrastructure. She said the department has been working with a consultant to determine what the town needs to be upgraded and how much it will cost. The current estimate for the project is $3.2 million. The town’s current system ranges between 22 to 30 years old.
DeRaad added that these upgrades will benefit the Department of Public Works, Police Department, and Fire Department. She also presented a proposal to fund a second-in-command to the Communications Department to support her role. DeRaad explained that the current model does not allow for attention to the Department and the community.
Chief of Police Joseph Bennett presented the Police Department’s proposed FY26 budget. He said the department’s budget primarily consists of personal expenses, which are determined by the Union contract. The department is currently in the process of negotiating next fiscal year’s Union contract and the current proposed FY26 budget is based on the current contract.
Bennett also requested Capital expenses for three new police cruisers, which would cost $76,000 each. The new police cruisers would help the department “maintain our fleet,” Deputy Chief of Police Scott van Raalten said. “As we grow with our officers, the need for reliable cruisers is ever more apparent.”
Town Manager Elaine Lazarus said the current gap in the budget is approximately $1.1 million. Herr noted that this is down from a $4 million gap from nearly two months ago.
Other departments will present their FY26 budgets to Select Board at upcoming meetings.
