Finance panel reviews five-article December warrant

Finance Committee · Meeting of October 15, 2026

SHREWSBURY — The Shrewsbury Finance Committee reviewed a five-article draft warrant for the December 7 Special Town Meeting, including proposals to exempt police captain and deputy chief positions from civil service and repeal a 32-year age cap on new police and firefighter hires. A staff presenter identified as Alex reported the Select Board set the FY27 tax rate at $11.38, down 12 cents from last year, though the average single-family bill will still rise $167.71. The town cut its local receipts estimate by about $1 million to balance the budget, with 20 percent, or just under $3.7 million, collected so far this fiscal year.

Member Gene Buddenhagen asked for a public update on SELCO's stalled project on town-donated land, saying "everybody is asking the question, well, what's happening?" Two zoning articles, covering commercial drone facilities and data centers, head to a Planning Board hearing November 4, with the full warrant up for a Finance Committee hearing November 19 ahead of the December 7 town meeting.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,747 words

Source: the Finance Committee meeting of October 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.