Whately Boards Vote to Put Single Override Question on May Ballot

WHATELY — March 16, 2026 — Whately Select Board and Finance Committee agree on a single Proposition 2½ override question for the May 2 town election. Both bodies voted unanimously at their March 16 joint session to combine school and general-government funding into one ballot question, rejecting a split approach. With a state-mandated certification deadline of March 27, town administrator Becky said final numbers are needed no later than Wednesday, March 25. Budget scenarios reviewed Monday showed a fiscal year 2027 deficit ranging from roughly $433,000 under the deepest cuts to $1.023 million at current budget request levels, against an estimated revenue base of $10.935 million. Police chief projections showed a 5 percent reduction would eliminate all part-time officers, cancel three overnight shifts per week, and defund a full-time recruit currently in the academy. The town holds approximately $560,000 in certified free cash, and members cautioned against drawing more than $250,000 given uncertainty about whether local receipt surpluses that had built free cash in prior years will recur in fiscal year 2027.