Milford Finance Committee Reviews FY27 Budgets, Identifies $271,000 Revenue Gap

MILFORD — March 25, 2026 — Milford Finance Committee opens FY27 budget season with a $271,000 shortfall and five departments flagged for deeper review. Blackstone Valley Technical School Superintendent-Director Anthony Steele presented a $33,031,281 FY27 budget — a 2.5 percent increase achieved by cutting $1.52 million, including eight fewer full-time equivalent positions and a zero-base-wage teacher contract that Steele said saves $323,000 this year and more than $2 million over three years. Milford's BVT assessment rises 10.24 percent, or $220,642, driven largely by a $197,447 jump in the state-calculated minimum contribution formula. Town Administrator Zachary Doiron told the committee that new revenue totals just over $3 million but state aid netted only $150,000 in new dollars, calling it "a massive, massive impact." Snow and ice spending has already hit $1,409,000 against a $600,000 budget, and Finance Director Tom Brown said covering the $804,000 overrun with free cash will effectively deplete that reserve heading into fall capital season. Police, fire, building inspections, IT, and the school department were identified for in-person presentations beginning April 8.