Cody Haddad, Town Administrator, presented updates on the FY26 budget, highlighting minor adjustments, such as a $1,000 stipend for the treasurer collector’s certification and a regrading of the town clerk’s position to align with its salary range. Additionally, funds were returned to the library wages budget to maintain grant funding eligibility. Despite these adjustments, the budget still presented a significant deficit, prompting extensive discussion on how to address it.

A primary concern raised was the feasibility of securing two consecutive overrides, with one member advocating for a strategy that utilized $500,000 in free cash and implementing budget cuts to avoid an override this year. This plan, they suggested, would provide more time to prepare the community for an inevitable override next year. The member emphasized the importance of minimizing financial strain on taxpayers, noting that asking for consecutive overrides could prove challenging.

The committee also considered the implications of rising education expenses, with projections indicating that budget demands from Halifax Elementary School and general government could lead to increases next year. Specifically, potential requests for a 5% increase from the school and at least a 3% increase from general government were discussed.

Capital planning needs, such as a new ambulance and road repairs totaling $800,000, were also a point of contention. The ambulance, a 2019 model with high mileage, prompted concerns about its viability and the potential costs of delaying its replacement. The necessity of police vehicles was similarly debated, given their essential year-round use.

Plans to hold budget forums in April were discussed as a means to inform residents and gather feedback ahead of town meetings. The importance of being prepared for amendments during the town meeting was also stressed, given the historical precedent of resident-driven changes to the proposed budget.

The committee ultimately concluded that both a balanced budget with cuts and a supplemental budget for an override should be prepared for presentation to the select board. A motion was put forth and unanimously passed, recommending the use of $800,000 from free cash to balance the budget after necessary cuts. This approach aimed to mitigate the immediate deficit while setting the stage for a more comprehensive financial strategy in the coming year.