Shutesbury Finance Committee Approves FY27 Budget, Recommends 19 Warrant Articles

SHUTESBURY -- March 24, 2026, Shutesbury's Finance Committee approved a fiscal year 2027 budget and recommended 19 town warrant articles at its March 24 meeting, with projected average single-family tax increases of $535 to $600 dominating the night's deliberations. Town Treasurer Ryan advised against extending the library construction loan beyond 10 years, warning that longer terms attract higher interest rates and fewer bidders, but the committee settled on a 15-year principal payment schedule using annual bond anticipation notes, a move George, a Finance Committee member, framed as essential flexibility given "extraordinary times" and consecutive years of steep tax hikes. The committee also voted unanimously to recommend a transfer of up to $83,845 from general stabilization, not capital stabilization, a change designed to lower the required vote threshold to a simple majority, for dam repairs tied to a December 3, 2025 state safety order, with construction expected to begin by late March or early April. A $98,500 snow and ice deficit emerged as an unresolved pressure point, with members discussing a warrant article capped at "not to exceed" language to cover the overage through Finance Committee reserves and line-to-line transfers ahead of the tax recap. The lone dissenting vote of the night came from committee member Mosher, who voted against the $5,700 clicker system purchase for town meetings.