Wenham Voters Pass $27.3 Million Budget and School Override at Annual Town Meeting

WENHAM -- April 9, 2026, Wenham voters approved a $27.3 million FY2027 operating budget and a $438,589 school override appropriation at the 2026 Annual Town Meeting on April 9, sending both questions to the April 16 town election for final determination. Finance and Advisory Committee Chair Phineas Sprague told the roughly 290 voters present that approving both Articles 1 and 2 would raise property taxes 6.14 percent, or approximately $0.31 per $1,000 of assessed value, the first time in six years the budget has required an override. Superintendent Eric Tracy warned that a failed override would trigger the elimination of approximately 26 staff positions, the end of all late-bus service, and deferral of sprinkler head and security vestibule upgrades, on top of seven positions already cut. Voters also approved a debt exclusion authorization for high school roof replacement 255 to 21, well past the required two-thirds, after Tracy reported that bids came in approximately $3 million below earlier estimates, with Wenham's projected bond share now approximately $1.37 million after a 45.51 percent Massachusetts School Building Authority reimbursement. The meeting, which addressed all 23 warrant articles, also adopted the Specialized Energy Stretch Code, a non-binding net-zero carbon resolution targeting 2050, a solar power purchase agreement for Iron Rail property at 13.4 cents per kilowatt hour, and authorization for the Select Board to dispose of Boulder Lane parcels for multifamily housing.