The Road to Town Meeting – Finance & Warrant Committee Continue to Review Town and School Budgets for Fiscal Year 2026
Join us at the April 14 Finance and Warrant Committee Meeting
The Finance and Warrant Committee (FWC) will be hosting another hybrid public meeting on Monday at 6:30 p.m. as we continue to prepare for the 2025 Spring Annual Town Meeting in May.
In addition to public comment, the FWC will be discussing the following topics at their public meeting this coming Monday (April 14) and encourage members of the public to attend and participate in-person or via Zoom:
- Discussion & Vote Re: Close the Public Hearings on Articles 2, 5 thru 14, and 23 thru 27 for the 2025 Spring Annual Town Meeting
- Discussion, Deliberations & Vote Re: Articles 2, 5 thru 14 and 23 thru 27 for the 2025 Spring Annual Town Meeting
- FY’26 Budget Updates/Discussion with Town & Schools
At the request of the Finance and Warrant Committee, the Town and Schools will be presenting FY26 budget scenarios to analyze options for the Finance and Warrant Committee’s recommended budget. The scenarios presented will equal a $2 million reduction from the Town Manager’s recommended budget for FY26.
Meeting Materials
Recent Meetings - Recaps
All Day Budget Hearings (Saturday, March 8):
The Town of Dedham's Fiscal Year 2026 All-Day Budget Hearing (morning and afternoon sessions) was held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, and provided an in-depth look at the Town's budget plans and financial position. The Budget Hearing focused on how the budget is comprised of the Town and the Schools, how property taxes play a role, and how the Town plans to maintain level service to taxpayers while ensuring long-term financial stability.
Town and School Department heads presented an overview of services and programs, current staffing, their future goals, achievements and successes, and notable changes since the previous year's hearings and meetings. The hearing also included strategic discussions about potential improvements, such as combining Town and School IT departments and updates to the organizational structure within the Library.
During the hearing, the Finance and Warrant Committee had discussions with Department heads about budget allocations for goods, services, and staff training. They also looked at how Dedham's spending compares to similar towns to explore potential ways to save money, such as adjusting fees and merging Town and School Human Resources departments.
These discussions aimed to create a balanced budget that fits community needs and tackles financial challenges while emphasizing the need for continuous reviews and adjustments to maintain financial health.
April 7 Public Meeting
During the recent Finance and Warrant Committee public meeting on April 7, key discussions revolved around Articles 2, 4, and 6, as well as the Overlay Surplus and Free Cash balances:
- Article 2 focuses on the Collective Bargaining Agreements and the Personnel Wage and Salary Plan. This article includes a proposed 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the Management Group (employees not covered under union collective bargaining agreements). This one-year adjustment would result in a $128,464 increase for FY26.
- Article 4 includes the Capital Improvement Project Budget, where potential strategies were discussed to fund various projects. The Town's Financial Policies suggest using bonds for projects over $250,000 and Free Cash for smaller initiatives. Discussion also included the reallocation of a vehicle to the Parks and Recreation Department, a significant cost reduction in the Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) project due to a grant from the MWRA, and plans to combine several School Facilities requests to be funded through bonds rather than using Free Cash.
- Article 6 includes Line-Item Transfers that involve reallocating already-appropriated funds from one budget line to another, with no new impact on the tax levy or Free Cash. Expected transfers were earmarked for overtime in the Police, Fire, and Library departments, driven by factors such as increased FMLA use, staffing vacancies, and extended absences.
- Additionally, the FWC discussed the potential use of Overlay Surplus (funds designated for property tax abatements and exemptions), with the potential of the Board of Assessors voting to make $900,000 available for allocation to support either the Capital or Operating Budgets.
- The FWC discussed Free Cash balance projections, noting that the FY25 started with a certified balance of $8.2 million. With proposed allocations of $2.1 million for Capital Improvements, $1.6 million for the Operating Budget, and additional funds for the snow and ice budget, an estimated $4 million would remain in FY26 if the budgets are approved.
Information and Resources on Town Website
Copies of all FWC meeting agendas and links to recordings (courtesy of Dedham TV) are available on the 2025 Spring Town Meeting page, along with other resources and information needed for Town Meeting on May 19, 2025.
