Southampton approves FY27 base budget and advances $2.5 million override to ballot after hour-long debate

The annual town meeting voted to approve Southampton’s FY27 base budget after a presentation by Town Administrator Scott Zback and extended public questioning about revenue assumptions and service cuts. The moderator, Robert Floyd, opened the meeting by outlining procedure and the warrant, then recognized a motion for Article One to appropriate the FY27 amount; the assembly then heard a five‑minute summary from Scott Zback and a series of public questions.

Zback told voters “revenues are declining, expenses are rising,” and said property taxes provide roughly three‑quarters of the town’s revenue, while state education aid fell and new growth was down. He described a structural deficit driven by rising health‑insurance and retirement costs and presented two override options: $1.9 million or $2.5 million, explaining that the larger override would include the smaller amount and, if approved, both questions would appear on the May 19 ballot.

The discussion that followed focused on the impact at Norris Elementary and Hampshire Regional, ambulance funding and free‑cash shortfalls. School leaders warned of lost positions if the overrides failed; Norris principal Alisa Pluto said class sizes already rose last year after cuts. Residents pressed the town administrator for clarity on revenue declines and on how override votes would be applied at the ballot box. After a counted paddle vote and tabulation with the auxiliary room, the moderator announced that Article One passed (the moderator reported a strong two‑thirds majority).

Town meeting then considered Article Two, the override motion. Scott Zback reiterated that the $2.5 million option would restore services and include the $1.9 million option; legal counsel fielded a proposed amendment that attempted to fund operating costs via a debt exclusion and said operating budgets cannot be financed by borrowing. After debate, the meeting approved the motion to set the override at the higher amount and send it to the ballot on May 19 for voter ratification.

The meeting’s next steps are the May 19 election, where registered voters will decide any override amounts advanced by town meeting. If both overrides pass at the ballot, the higher dollar override governs. The town also scheduled a June 20 special town meeting to address any follow‑up items and final accounting as state and audit figures become available.