At the heart of the meeting was a presentation by South Eastern Regional, which proposed a budget representing a 6.2% increase from the previous year. The foundation budget was reported to have increased by 5.3% to just over $36.6 million, with the local assessment piece being $13487 169. Concerns were raised by committee members regarding this increase, especially in light of regional transportation costs that impacted the local assessment. A committee member voiced their frustration, stating that surrounding communities were making financial sacrifices, and the proposed budget increase was, in their view, “insulting.” In response, a representative from South Eastern Regional explained that the rise in the budget could mainly be attributed to higher enrollment numbers and regional transportation expenses, while also operating at net school spending. The committee delved into questions about the student admission process, the number of students on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and the comparator demographic splits by town.

Another topic that provoked debate was the funding for the Bristol County Agricultural High School, with committee members expressing disappointment over the absence of school representatives to discuss the budget changes from original projections. The discussion expanded to the broader issue of how net school spending and foundation budgets are calculated, drawing a comparison to property tax payments and sparking concerns about transparency and fiscal responsibility.

The Norton Finance Committee also faced the difficult decision of potentially eliminating a part-time town clerk position, weighing the cost benefits of having two half-time positions versus one full-time position. The new contractual salary for the town planner and the reduction of hours for some staff members prompted further debate on the impact of such changes on public service accessibility and cybersecurity.

The need for detailed salary information from the schools emerged as a critical point, with one member highlighting the disparity between the level of detail provided in other department budgets compared to that of the school budgets. There was a call for more detailed breakdowns and potential meetings with school officials to address these concerns.

In the realm of public safety, discussions turned to the budget for Norton’s police and fire departments. Members debated the prudence of using free cash or stabilization funds to bridge budget shortfalls, the sustainability of such measures, and the potential effects on departmental operations. The fire department budget, in particular, brought forward concerns regarding the reduction of funds, which could impact ambulance services and associated revenues. The committee voted on the Emergency Medical Services budget, with a split decision reflecting differing opinions on the best course of action.

The allocation of funds to the Inspection Department was also scrutinized, with a proposed reduction in the local inspector and part-time inspectors’ funds based on projected lower inspection needs due to expected new growth. Another discussion centered on the Communications Center budget, which saw a notable increase in assessment. The possibility of including additional towns in the Communications Center was proposed as a way to distribute costs and maintain stable assessments.

Additional budget items discussed included adjustments to the Board of Health’s personnel services budget due to an upcoming retirement, debates over the Regional Agricultural School and Highway Department budgets, and considerations for prioritizing funding for the police and fire departments over other areas. The committee also addressed concerns about the accuracy of budget estimates for unemployment compensation and employee benefits, highlighting the potential need for future adjustments.