Townsend Finance Committee begins FY27 budget review, eyes reserve fund boost

Finance Committee · Meeting of January 20, 2026

Townsend Finance Committee opens FY27 budget season with election cost surge and reserve fund push. The seven-member board, meeting January 20 with all members present for the first time in years according to Chair Don Hayes, heard from Town Clerk Harrison that a three-election FY27 will drive the elections overtime budget from roughly $12,075 to $38,350 — a 300 percent increase — while a separate special article election account has drawn down to about $8,000 and will require a free cash article at the February special town meeting to replenish. The clerk, noting the Select Board had cut the postage line to zero in FY26, said of the restored $975 request: "The reality is I intend to follow the law." The committee voted unanimously to hold its own $750 expense account level and agreed to request $60,000 for the reserve fund in FY27 — up from $40,000 — with a stated goal of reaching $100,000 over five years in $10,000 annual increments.

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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of January 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.