Chelsea manager proposes $272.38M FY27 budget; council schedules May 18–20 hearings

The Chelsea City Council received the city manager’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget on May 4 and moved four related orders to conference and public hearing.

The manager told the council the proposed budget funds city operations at $116,129,801 and Chelsea Public Schools at $156,248,491 for a combined total of $272,378,292 covering the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The manager said the schools’ budget reflects a 3.55% increase and described a robust community process that included four public sessions and department hearings scheduled May 18–20.

By unanimous voice vote the council agreed to move the four orders (general fund operating budget, sewer enterprise fund, water enterprise fund, and free-cash appropriation) to conference and to schedule the public hearings on May 18–20. The manager and councilors discussed opportunities for additional questions in Ways and Means or at the scheduled hearings.

The hearings with department heads will allow councilors and members of the public to question department officials about department-level line items before final appropriation votes.