The town administrator detailed the issues leading to the budget adjustments. The DLS review highlighted discrepancies in revenue estimates, particularly concerning the town’s new growth figures, which fell short of historical trends, coming in under $120,000, the lowest in years. This shortfall was compounded by higher-than-expected overlay costs, which include tax revenue unlikely to be collected due to exemptions and non-payments. Efforts to ensure future financial stability involve adopting more conservative revenue estimates and improving financial reporting practices following a recent audit.

The impact of these budget reductions was a point of contention. One speaker expressed concern that cutting $57,000 from the fire department budget would delay hiring a second paramedic, a position previously approved by voters. The speaker warned that continued budget cuts could lead to reduced services and staff, including potentially moving to part-time positions or eliminating departments.