Finance Committee approves February minutes, reviews six departmental budgets for FY2027.
Chelmsford Finance Committee approves departmental budgets and advances warrant articles ahead of spring Town Meeting. DPW budget totals $21.3 million, a 3.9 percent increase, with PFAS remediation at 54 Richardson Road rising to $350,000 annually after ARPA funding ends; sewer bills are expected
Finance Committee · Meeting of March 5, 2026
Chelmsford Finance Committee approves departmental budgets and advances warrant articles ahead of spring Town Meeting. DPW budget totals $21.3 million, a 3.9 percent increase, with PFAS remediation at 54 Richardson Road rising to $350,000 annually after ARPA funding ends; sewer bills are expected to increase $20 to $23. Police Chief Colin Spence, announcing his retirement, reported the Police Department budget of $10.04 million includes a 3.65 percent increase, with personnel costs up $260,637 (3.02 percent) and vehicle costs up $20,000 per fully equipped cruiser.
Finance Director John Sousa presented a Finance Department budget maintaining 14 full-time equivalent positions. Veterans' Agent Regina Jackson requested warrant articles to double two tax exemptions for veterans, totaling $164,000 in town impact. PEG Access cable television reported declining fee revenue from cord-cutting, dropping from $653,781 in FY2022 to a projected $570,000 in FY2027.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 730 words
Source: the Finance Committee meeting of March 5, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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