Dalton Board Tentatively Approves FY27 Budget
Select Board · Meeting of February 18, 2026
Dalton Select Board tentatively approves a lean FY27 budget that avoids new borrowing and keeps the average tax bill increase to about $260, less than half last year's hike. Town Manager Eric said the plan uses $200,000 of free cash and 5 percent department cuts, with Police Chief Strout trimming a $1.5 million police budget by less than $10,000. The board also backed a $5,000-plus-$12,000-a-year ClearGov software contract for budget transparency, endorsed a letter seeking $60 million in state rural school aid, and sent a TIF agreement with SitCon Plastics back to attorney David Allen for corrections.
"The good news story is the numbers are eye-opening positive," Eric said, "the bad news is there's going to be a reduction of programs or services." Two unresolved costs, an $830,000 potential sewer-fee hike and the final regional school assessment, could still move the numbers before May's town meeting.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 896 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of February 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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