Newbury Treasurer says fund balances healthy as town awaits Jan. 13 audit

Mary Collins, Town Treasurer, told the Town of Newbury Selectboard and Budget Advisory Committee at the Jan. 3 budget hearing that current fund balances and surpluses in the General and Highway funds look "reasonably healthy" going into fiscal year 2026. She said the auditor is scheduled to begin on Jan. 13, after which the town will have firmer year-end figures.

Collins' update framed the hearing's discussion of department budgets and capital requests: several departments presented requests similar to 2025 levels while flagging potential increases for specific items, and committee members asked for additional detail where capital needs were unclear. The hearing record shows the board used the Treasurer's projection as the baseline for evaluating requests and for identifying which items may require further justification after the audit.