ADAMS, Mass. — Prior to the annual town meeting in June, there were several unknowns when the budget was being developed. Now that those uncertainties have been resolved, the town will hold a special town meeting to update the budget.

 

The special town meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30, in the Memorial Building gymnasium.

 

The Select Board will sign the warrant on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 5 p.m., the required 14 days before the special town meeting. 

 

In the last year, Adams has had a high turnover in employees because of retirements and staff leaving to pursue other opportunities. This resulted in several vacancies during budget season. 

 

Town Administrator Nicholas Caccamo conservatively budgeted those positions at previous rates, maintaining each staff member's prior step or grade, as if the roles were filled full time, essentially building a "level-funded service budget."

 

The special town meeting will take place before the tax rate is set, allowing the town sufficient time to prepare the tax bills for mailing in early November, with payments due in late November, he told the Select Board last Wednesday. 

 

"During the FY27 budget discussions, we started that process with a number of vacancies and a number of questions with some of our appropriations, particularly around salaries and health insurance. We've since nearly filled all those vacancies," Caccamo said.