Town Moderator Robert Floyd previews $15.94M FY27 operating budget and supplemental override question

Robert Floyd, Town Moderator, opened an information session and read the articles that will appear at Southampton's Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, May 2, at 10:00 a.m. at the William E. Norris School. He presented the town's proposed fiscal year 2027 operating budget and related supplemental measures as they will appear for voter consideration.

The moderator read Article 1 as a motion to appropriate $15,936,813.64 to fund municipal departments and the public schools for FY27. He identified the financing sources listed in the article: $15,606,210 to be raised from taxation; $17,500 transferred from a WPAT loan; $250,000 from ambulance fees; and $63,103.64 from the operational stabilization fund.

He then read Article 2, a supplemental appropriation proposed at $2,517,535.96 to fund municipal departments in FY27. The Article 2 appropriation is expressly contingent upon passage of a Proposition 2/2 override ballot question under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 59, subch. 21C. The moderator also read an alternate option in the warrant (a smaller override of $1,926,947.20 shown as appendix B). He reminded listeners the related town election on the override question is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19 (noon to 8 p.m.).

The session also included readings of other budget-related articles the town will consider at the annual meeting: the Hampshire Regional School District assessment, enterprise budgets (transfer station and water), and elected-official compensation. For example, Article 3 would appropriate the town's assessed share of $6,281,651 for the Hampshire regional budget; Article 4 lists a transfer station enterprise budget of $213,045.54; and Article 5 lists a water enterprise budget totaling $1,119,791.42 (with line items for salaries, operating expenses, capital outlay, indirect costs and debt service).

The moderator closed the session by inviting questions (none were raised during the information meeting) and reminding voters to register and arrive early for the May 2 meeting (recommended 9:30 a.m.). The articles as read will be considered by voters on May 2; the Proposition 2/2 override will appear on the May 19 ballot.