Sherman officials present town and school budgets ahead of May 2 referendum

At a town meeting on April 18, 2026, Robert Ostrosky, town clerk and elected moderator, opened proceedings and read the meeting warning and the Pledge of Allegiance.

First Selectman Don Lowe presented the Board of Selectmen’s proposed Town of Sherman budget of $7,934,192 for the fiscal year July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The minutes record that the Board of Selectmen acted in its capacity as the Board of Finance for the presentation. The budget was discussed but not voted on; the minutes state the item "will be voted on at the Referendum to be held on May 2, 2026."

Patricia Cosentino, superintendent of schools, presented the Board of Education’s proposed budget of $10,095,148 for the same fiscal year. As with the town budget, the school budget was presented for discussion only and is scheduled for a referendum vote on May 2, 2026.

The minutes do not record motions, amendments, individual speakers’ questions or direct quotations from the discussion; they state only that each budget was "explained" by the named official and that "discussion followed." Because no formal vote or motion was recorded at the April 18 meeting, the budgets remain proposals pending the referendum.

The meeting adjourned at 10:20 a.m. The next procedural step recorded in the minutes is the May 2, 2026 referendum at which voters will decide on each proposed budget.