Shutesbury Finance Committee sets April 30 deadline for FY27 budget documents

SHUTESBURY — April 23, 2026 — Shutesbury's Finance Committee finalized its FY27 budget package and scheduled a May 7 public information session as the town faces a proposed average tax bill of $7,248, a $477 increase over FY26. The committee set an April 30 deadline to post budget and annual report documents to the town website, with Town Moderator Nettie confirmed to moderate the hybrid session at Town Hall at 6:30 p.m. Members corrected a systematic percentage-change calculation error in the revenue page and updated the town administrator salary line to reflect a final contracted figure roughly $1,200 below the earlier placeholder. The committee also disclosed a snow and ice deficit exceeding $100,000 for FY26, to be addressed through reserves and line-to-line transfers. A Finance Committee letter drafted by member Laura, approved for inclusion in the annual report package, calls on the town to explore economic development and collaboration with neighboring communities on sharing services and capital expenses, warning that the FY27 budget draws on approximately $208,000 in cash reserves — a second consecutive year of drawing down the town's fiscal cushion.