Millbury Finance Committee Opens Budget Hearing, Delays FY27 Vote

Finance Committee · Meeting of February 25, 2026

Millbury Finance Committee opens FY27 budget hearing, finds $800,000 in cuts but delays a vote. Town Manager Karyn Clark and CFO Katie McKenna told the committee a $1.4 million excess-levy shortfall baked into the current budget, plus $300,000 in free cash used this year, has created what McKenna called "a huge structural deficit." Officials floated possible layoffs and added town hall closures. Deputy Town Manager Nicole Valentine, defending an emergency-management overhaul that uncovered a major police-fire radio gap now driving a $1.5 million warrant article, said "I will not accept being threatened" after describing resident harassment over the effort; Clark sought a $2,000 stipend for her.

The committee also weighed an $18,750 reserve-fund transfer to hire a payroll specialist early but took no vote, deferring to next week pending a legal opinion from Town Counsel Brian Faulk. All other votes, including closing the hearing and adjourning, passed 6-0.

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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of February 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.