Reviews the town's entire budget and makes recommendations on how your tax dollars are spent.
58 items across 8 meetings.
April 15, 2026 · minutes
✅ Approved
Minutes approved unanimously.
✅ Approved
Upton's share of the MURSD school district assessment was revised downward by $116,679; committee unanimously approved a new line-item budget of $29,046,979.
💰 Decrease of $116,679 from approved amount of $29,163,658; revised total $29,046,979
🗳️ Voted on
Motion for unfavorable action on Article 4 (the full MURSD budget article) failed 3-2; committee records it as favorable action by majority — outcome affects how ATM votes on school spending and any override.
✅ Approved
Unanimously approved all financial warrant articles (Articles 2, 6-8, 10-22, 24-27, 31-35) grouped by funding source: Raise & Appropriate, Free Cash, Other Available, Enterprise Funds, and CPA.
🔄 Postponed
Vote on Article 5 postponed until after all article presentations are completed at a future meeting.
💬 Discussed
Recommendation Book due to printer by April 20; Mr. Bern to circulate revised draft to Finance Committee, Town Manager, Finance Director, and Select Board before submission.
💬 Discussed
Finance Committee tentatively plans a joint meeting with the Select Board on April 28 to attend a DPW facility presentation.
📍 Upton Town Hall
✅ Approved
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 pm.
April 8, 2026 · minutes
✅ Approved
Minutes for October 21, 2025, March 17, March 24, and March 31, 2026 approved unanimously as edited.
💬 Discussed
Lakes, Ponds & Streams proposed three separate articles ($10,000, $6,000, $2,500) for water testing; Finance Committee recommended consolidating into one article, and both committees agreed to keep communication open.
💰 $18,500 total across three proposed articles
💬 Discussed
Tree removal warrant article presented; final cost may be lower if an abutter grants vendor access through his property, though not yet confirmed.
💰 Amount not specified; potentially reduced if abutter access granted
💬 Discussed
Trail bridge repair approved at FY24 ATM for $120,000 came in at $155,000 from the low bidder; $35,000 supplemental article proposed, but may be passed over entirely if CPC discussions eliminate the project.
💰 $35,000 additional funding requested over original $120,000 appropriation
✅ Approved
Bristol-Plymouth Vocational Technical (BVT) assessment line item adjusted by $142,284 to match the school's approved request.
💰 $142,284 increase
✅ Approved
Norfolk Aggie line item reduced by $42,423 from the Town Manager's recommendation, recalculated for 6 students at $30,044/student plus $17,000 transportation, totaling $197,264.
💰 Decrease of $42,423 from TM recommendation; $197,264 total
✅ Approved
$40,000 added to Wage Contingency to cover potential restructuring costs from terminating or expiring contracts during FY27.
💰 $40,000
✅ Approved
Total FY27 budget of $31,685,575 approved in three votes: general lines ($29,163,658) unanimously; Police Department ($2,388,075) and Town Clerk ($133,842) by majority with Mr. Bern abstaining on both.
💰 Total budget $31,685,575; net local receipts offset of $139,861
🔄 Postponed
Committee reviewed current warrant articles but unanimously agreed to postpone voting until April 15 to allow Mr. Craig to attend; Select Board signing the warrant April 14.
💬 Discussed
Committee must confirm printing deadline ahead of the May 7 Town Meeting; Finance Committee will lead document compilation and may reduce its size and content this year.
✅ Approved
Meeting adjourned at 9:08 pm.
March 31, 2026 · minutes
✅ Approved
Meeting opened at 6:03 pm by Chair Paul Flaherty.
📍 Upton Town Hall, Room 203
💬 Discussed
Police Chief requested replacing all 16 portable radios — 10 funded by a town article ($19,271), 6 via state grant; prior radios approved at Fall Special Town Meeting were incompatible.
💰 $19,271 (article); additional radios via state grant
💬 Discussed
BVT budget increased 2.5% overall; Upton's share rises ~$185K, driven primarily by the Minimum Local Contribution increase of $165K, with 6 more Upton students than FY26.
💰 ~$185K increase to Upton; $165K driven by Minimum Local Contribution
💬 Discussed
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Connors presented an overview of BVT's new vocational program lottery system.
💬 Discussed
LU&IS operating expenses are flat; wages/salaries up ~5% due to contractual changes for the Building Inspector position.
💰 ~5% wage/salary increase
💬 Discussed
Board of Health budget increased $8,900, mainly from a curbside removal contract increase, partially offset by new lower-step hires; trash bag/sticker programs also discussed.
💰 $8,900 increase; curbside removal contract driving costs
💬 Discussed
Finance Dept budget up $30K (6.57%): $15K in wages and remainder from higher audit and GASB full-valuation costs; all town debt is currently at 2% or lower.
💰 $30K increase (6.57%); all town debt ≤2%
💬 Discussed
Combined Select Board/Town Manager budget up $307K (8.5% vs FY26), driven mainly by the new Town Manager contract; Street Lighting line item transferred to DPW, adding to DPW's increase.
💰 $307K increase (8.5%)
💬 Discussed
FinCom member noted southeastern towns are pooling together to reduce health insurance rates; Town Manager will explore this option.
🗳️ Voted on
Select Board voted to open the warrant adding: police radios ($19,271), Board of Assessor Certification ($10,000), Debt Exclusion, Override, and Conservation Fund ($5,000).
💰 $19,271 police radios; $10,000 assessor certification; $5,000 conservation fund
🗳️ Voted on
Select Board placed the override at $2,457,651 due to time constraints in finalizing the warrant; Local Receipts were reviewed as a possible offset.
💰 $2,457,651 override
💬 Discussed
Moderator David Loeper joined to discuss the ordering and placement of articles within the Town Meeting warrant.
✅ Approved
Motion to adjourn passed unanimously at 9:40 pm.