Finance Committee Weighs Budget Reductions to Address Levy Overage
Wenham Finance Committee discussed FY27 budget reductions to address a $65,000 levy overage. Phineas Sprague led members through cost-cutting options including a 1 percent operating budget reduction of $31,723 and elimination of a planned firefighter position saving $56,323. Capital item requests
Finance and Advisory Committee · Meeting of February 4, 2026
Wenham Finance Committee discussed FY27 budget reductions to address a $65,000 levy overage. Phineas Sprague led members through cost-cutting options including a 1 percent operating budget reduction of $31,723 and elimination of a planned firefighter position saving $56,323. Capital item requests total $623,000.
With approximately $500,000 in Free Cash remaining after capital allocations, Committee members weighed options including rollover to the following year, transfer to stabilization, OPEB funding, and school support to potentially avoid a levy override. Town Administrator Steve Poulos reported applying for a grant for a police interrogation room, with results expected in late March.
In the full story:
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Source: the Finance and Advisory Committee meeting of February 4, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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