Finance Committee defers FY27 budget vote, sets March 9 warrant deliberation

SUDBURY -- March 2, 2026, Sudbury Finance Committee defers FY27 budget vote after final town hearing previews $131.8M operating budget. Town Manager Andy Sheehan and Finance Director Victor Garofalo walked members through a 4 percent guidance increase across all cost centers, a $9.395 million certified free cash balance, and plans to use nearly $6 million of it at the May 4 Town Meeting, including $4.789 million for capital, $775,000 across three stabilization funds, and $750,000 for a snow and ice deficit that has already consumed $197,000 on a single DPW storm response. Sheehan warned a Proposition 2½ override is likely "as early as fiscal year 28." Member Henry Sorett pressed for cuts in conservation and planning before any override; Sheehan declined, saying premarking departments as expendable would leave employees "wildly unproductive." Member Karl Fries questioned overfunding capital stabilization by $212,000 versus pre-funding the Middlesex Retirement assessment. Votes were pushed to March 9.