CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town is entering fiscal 2027 with something like a sigh of relief from a combination of budget reductions and free cash largesse.

 

The total budget is up 3 percent at $5,550,319, a $164,237 increase over this year. 

 

"Our free cash came in a lot higher than I ever thought. We came in at $950,652 so that allowed us to reset and get us where I was hoping for us to be," Town Administrator Ronald Boucher told the joint meeting of the Select Board and Finance Committee on Monday. "We're in really good shape financially.

 

Board member Colton Andrews said it was probably the best financial position for the town; Boucher responded it was in "a long time because we're always paying catch up."

 

The town's operating budget is $1,911,815, up 2.63 percent; the school was able to carve some savings to come in at $3,212,174, or up 4.10 percent; and the McCann Technical School assessment is $426,330, down about 2.57 percent from this year.

 

The town budget includes an across the board 3 percent cost-of-living raise for employees. There are savings on the town assessor side of about $52,000 as the assessor first reduced her hours and then resigned, and costs for the valuation software dropped. Other savings include a decrease in hours for the administrative chief's salary, and some services, supplies and trainings. 

 

Town meeting will be asked to approve the budget and free cash and stabilization spending articles.