The once-problematic, proposed town budget for FY27, that Rochester residents will be asked to vote on at the Annual Town Meeting, will be balanced once and for all.
Last week, Town Administrator Cameron Durant informed the Rochester Select Board that the $27,900,000 town operating budget for the next fiscal year was up against $29,200,000 in department requests at the same time town revenues were set to be only $900,000 higher than FY26’s $27,200,000 budget.
On Monday, Durant told the Select Board that the town’s FY27 budget proposal is now out of trouble thanks to one-time revenues and recalculating what revenues will be available. “I am happy to announce the budget as presented is now balanced,” he said.
He explained one-time funds are a big reason. These include additional monies from the New England Rodeo’s time leasing the 65 Pine Street field and $100,000 from a school assessment fund that sets aside monies for school budgeting.
Durant is also recalculating projected revenues. He is now counting all local receipt revenues at 90% of expected rather than the previous calculation of 85% of expected. “No other cuts have been made,” he said. “Nothing else has changed.”
Acting Select Board Chair Paul Ciaburri and member Brad Morse were agreeable to these moves, but reluctantly.
“It’s not good using one-time funds this way,” Morse said, shaking his head. “We’re using one-time funds for things we shouldn’t have to.”
Durant responded, stating this is the best solution possible for now. He noted the budget is still subject to Finance Committee approval. He noted the Finance Committee will meet next on April 13.
Budget concerns followed the Select Board through other items on the remaining agenda. They were poised to approve new department head contracts for a police lieutenant, the fire chief, the treasurer, and the facilities manager. The board ultimately agreed to Morse’s motion that a vote be delayed until after upcoming FY27 school budget meetings.
When Durant reviewed an initial draft of the 2026 Annual Town Meeting warrant, he highlighted articles paying toward school costs, including $716,000 to pay the town’s share of the Old Rochester Regional School District health insurance debt. Rochester resident and retired school superintendent Dr. Kristine Nash was quick to criticize having to pay this debt, saying someone within school-budget circles must be held liable for incurring this debt. “Who do we hold responsible?” she asked.
Durant said this aspect of this debt is being investigated, but the money is still owed. “We have no choice but to pay this obligation,” he said.
In other action, the board voted to deactivate the By-Law Review Committee with the option to revive it at a later time. They were responding to a request from Committee Chair Jeffrey Costa to dissolve the panel. Durant argued on Costa’s behalf that the panel has had a hard time maintaining a quorum for members. Durant added that a grant from the state agency SRPEDD will allow this organization to help the town with by-law review. Ciaburri suggested making the review panel inactive in case its local members are needed again.
The FY27 budget and a 32-article warrant will be voted on by residents at the Annual Town Meeting on May 18.
The Rochester Select Board did not set its next regular meeting before adjourning.
Rochester Select Board
By Michael J. DeCicco