Reviews the town's entire budget and makes recommendations on how your tax dollars are spent.
96 items across 6 meetings.
April 6, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
Routine opening.
📋 Proposed
Update on the Collins Center (UMass municipal consulting group) report — specific findings not detailed in the agenda.
📋 Proposed
Review and approval of minutes from two prior Finance Committee meetings.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing and committee vote on a sewer main capital project on Washington Street for the May 4 Annual Town Meeting.
📍 Washington Street
📋 Proposed
Public hearing and committee vote on sewer department capital spending for the May 4 Annual Town Meeting.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing and committee vote on water department capital spending for the May 4 Annual Town Meeting.
📋 Proposed
Committee reviews a deposit to the Water Capital Stabilization Fund for the May 4 Special Town Meeting.
📋 Proposed
Committee reviews a deposit to the Sewer Capital Stabilization Fund for the May 4 Special Town Meeting.
📋 Proposed
Committee reviews a deposit to the town's General Stabilization Account (rainy-day reserve) for the May 4 Special Town Meeting.
📋 Proposed
Committee reviews a deposit to the Building Stabilization Account for the May 4 Special Town Meeting.
📋 Proposed
Committee reviews a deposit to the Fire Apparatus Stabilization Account for the May 4 Special Town Meeting.
📋 Proposed
Committee reviews a deposit to the Capital Project Stabilization Account for the May 4 Special Town Meeting.
📋 Proposed
Committee reviews a deposit to the Special Education Stabilization Fund for the May 4 Special Town Meeting.
📋 Proposed
Additional sewer department capital spending article via the May 4 Special Town Meeting up for committee review.
📋 Proposed
Police department capital spending article for the May 4 Special Town Meeting up for public hearing and committee vote.
📋 Proposed
Feasibility study for a new or renovated police station comes before the Finance Committee for the May 4 Special Town Meeting.
📋 Proposed
Finance Committee deliberates and takes formal votes recommending or opposing each Town Meeting article.
📋 Proposed
Meeting adjourns.
March 25, 2026 · agenda
• Status unclear
Routine opening of meeting.
📋 Proposed
Routine approval of prior Finance Committee meeting minutes.
💬 Discussed
Update on the Collins Center (municipal management consulting) report — scope unclear from agenda.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on the Stoughton School Department's operating budget for fiscal year 2027, a key driver of the town's tax levy.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on capital spending for the School Department for FY2027.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on renovations to Denison Athletic Fields using Community Preservation Act funds.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on appropriating money into a dedicated stabilization fund for special-education costs.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on a Special Town Meeting school capital article — details not specified in agenda.
📋 Proposed
Finance Committee plans to continue the FY2027 operating budget hearing on Monday, March 30, 2026.
📋 Proposed
Hearings on creating and funding Water Capital and Sewer Capital Stabilization Accounts deferred to April 6 — these reserve funds support future utility infrastructure.
📋 Proposed
Hearings on depositing funds into four stabilization accounts — General, Building, Fire Apparatus, and Capital — continued to April 6.
📋 Proposed
Sewer Department capital spending article hearing continued to April 6.
📋 Proposed
Police Department capital spending article hearing continued to April 6.
📋 Proposed
Feasibility study for a new or renovated Police Station — hearing continued to April 6.
📋 Proposed
Accepting contract and federal/state funds for town road improvements, subject to time-permitting discussion.
📋 Proposed
Vote on disposing of (selling or transferring) town-owned property — specific parcel not identified in agenda.
📋 Proposed
Vote on the Cedar Hill golf course enterprise fund operating budget for FY2027.
📋 Proposed
Vote on the Sewer Department enterprise fund budget — sets the basis for sewer rates residents pay.
📋 Proposed
Vote on the Water Department enterprise fund budget — sets the basis for water rates.
📋 Proposed
Reauthorizing town revolving funds (self-funded departmental accounts) for another year — routine annual action.
📋 Proposed
Vote on the SPAEA (School Paraprofessionals & Aides) collective bargaining agreement — labor contract with financial implications for the school budget.
📋 Proposed
Technical articles to close out a sunset clause and accept state statutes on property tax billing (c.59§57A) and delinquency (c.44§57).
📋 Proposed
Accepting state law allowing broader investment options for town trust funds — technical change.
📋 Proposed
Capital project for a sewer main on Washington Street — specific scope and cost not stated in agenda.
📋 Proposed
Capital spending articles for sewer and water system infrastructure improvements.
📋 Proposed
Vote on Fire Department capital equipment or facilities spending.
📋 Proposed
Vote on the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) annual budget, funded by a property-tax surcharge.
📋 Proposed
CPC-funded appropriation to preserve town historical records.
📋 Proposed
CPC project for Cedar Hill Green #1 — likely open space or recreation preservation; details not specified.
📋 Proposed
CPC-funded appropriation for new low-income housing through Stoughton Housing Authority.
📋 Proposed
CPC appropriations for Denison Field renovation, restoration of a historic Hand Pump fire truck, and Kolz Soccer Field rehabilitation.
📋 Proposed
CPC supplemental funding for Hebrew Senior Life senior-housing or services project.
📋 Proposed
CPC appropriation for historic preservation of the Stoughton Bank Lofts building.
📋 Proposed
Routine closeout of previously approved but unused CPC appropriations.
• Status unclear
Routine adjournment.
March 19, 2026 · minutes
💬 Discussed
Meeting called to order at 7:07 PM; upcoming meeting schedule changed to March 30 and April 6.
📍 10 Pearl Street, Town Hall
✅ Approved
Minutes from the 3/12/26 meeting approved as submitted.
💬 Discussed
Library FY27 budget reviewed; outreach coordinator position upgraded to professional, raising salary from ~$45K to $61,521, with funding rolled from HR budget.
💰 Salary increase to $61,521 (previously covered in HR budget)
💬 Discussed
COA FY27 budget reflects a 2.98% increase, converting one outreach position from part-time to full-time and including a $7,000 state formula grant.
💰 2.98% budget increase; $7,000 state grant
💬 Discussed
Recreation budget rose 21.8% largely for summer programs (220 kids/week peak), HIPAA compliance, and grounds maintenance; July 4 fireworks planned for July 1 with a rain date.
💰 21.8% budget increase for Recreation
📍 West School athletic field; Halloran Park; Wilkins
💬 Discussed
$650,000 from Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to replace dugouts, benches, and backstops and improve safety at fields 3 and 4; project goes to bid this fall.
💰 $650,000 CPC funds
📍 Denison Athletic Fields 3 & 4
💬 Discussed
$827,275 from CPC undesignated funds to remediate drainage and elevate fields 2 and 3 at Kolz, which sit on a former landfill and are frequently unplayable; $50,000 offset by registration fees.
💰 $827,275 CPC funds; $50,000 registration fee offset
📍 Kolz Soccer Fields
💬 Discussed
CPC annual budget reviewed: $71,500 salary line, $143,000 per category, $925,500 plus debt service; roughly $3.3M in account less $985,000 already approved.
💰 CPC budget ~$925,500 plus debt service; fund balance ~$3.3M
💬 Discussed
$20,000 for phase 2 of digitizing town records (births, deaths, etc.) dating to the 1800s; records available free online.
💰 $20,000 CPC funds
💬 Discussed
$250,000 CPC funds to expand green #1 from 1,700 to 5,000 sq. ft., improving player flow and reducing chemical use; work planned fall 2026, ready for spring 2027.
💰 $250,000 CPC funds
📍 Cedar Hill Golf Course
💬 Discussed
Stoughton Housing Authority seeks $800,000 CPC funds to build 8 prefab duplex two-bedroom units on Drake Ave, replacing scattered housing sold at market rate to help fund construction; veterans given preference.
💰 $800,000 CPC funds; existing units sold at market rate
📍 Drake Ave
💬 Discussed
$150,000 CPC funds for patina restoration of an antique fire truck purchased with private funds in 2023; to be stored at Station 1, Prospect Street.
💰 $150,000 CPC funds
📍 Station 1, Prospect Street
💬 Discussed
$500,000 CPC supplemental funding sought for a 96-unit all-affordable senior housing development (age 62+, income 0–$70K) at Canton and Simpson Streets; total project cost $62,000,000, with state/federal funding; construction must begin June–July 2026.
💰 $500,000 CPC funds; total project $62,000,000
📍 Canton Street & Simpson Street
💬 Discussed
$190,000 CPC funds (cost-split with owner) to restore the exterior of 810 Washington Street, converting the historic building into 1 commercial space and 9 market-rate residential units.
💰 $190,000 CPC funds (owner splits cost)
📍 810 Washington Street
💬 Discussed
Three completed CPC projects to be formally closed out and remaining funds returned to CPC account.
💬 Discussed
$5,000 petitioned article for a sign at Glen Echo Park recognizing indigenous heritage, timed to the town's 300th celebration; sign designed by a Massachusetts Tribe member, funded partly by a cultural council grant.
💰 $5,000 (partial grant from cultural council)
📍 Glen Echo Park
💬 Discussed
Project to add a half-moon bench seating area near the large boulder at Halloran Park, funded by free cash.
💰 Funded by free cash (amount not specified)
📍 Halloran Park
✅ Approved
All public hearings for Annual and Special Town Meeting (May 4) continued to March 25, 2026 at 7:00 PM; votes on Articles 3, 4, 5, 10, 13, 14, 15, and 16 deferred to a future agenda.
March 18, 2026 · agenda
📋 Proposed
Routine approval of five prior Finance Committee meeting minutes.
💬 Discussed
Update on the Collins Center report — scope and implications unspecified in the agenda.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on the full municipal operating budget for FY2027, covering Purchasing, Procurement, Town Clerk, Elections, Moderator, HR, Health Insurance, Unemployment, Information Systems, and Regional Schools.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on funding to replace the Washington Street sewer main and decommission the Sumner Ridge pump station.
📍 Washington Street / Sumner Ridge
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on sewer department capital spending for the annual town meeting cycle.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on water department capital spending for the annual town meeting cycle.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on additional sewer capital funding coming before the May 4 Special Town Meeting.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on DPW and facilities capital projects in the Special Town Meeting warrant.
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on capital funding for Cedar Hill — details unspecified in the agenda.
📍 Cedar Hill
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on funding the final design phase for the Park Street and Turnpike Street intersection improvement.
📍 Park Street & Turnpike Street
📋 Proposed
Public hearing on funding a management system for Town Pond.
📍 Town Pond
📋 Proposed
All public hearings will be continued to the following night, March 19, 2026.