Southbridge Town Council Approves $76.7 Million FY2027 Budget Unanimously

SOUTHBRIDGE — May 18, 2026 — Southbridge Town Council unanimously adopted a $76,709,953 general fund budget for fiscal year 2027 with no increases to water, sewer, or trash fees and no Proposition 2½ override. The 9-0 vote capped a budget season Town Manager Jack Jovan presented in detail at a public hearing earlier the same evening, May 18. Council Chairman Lazo praised the result, saying "if that's not success as a government, I don't know what is." The council also rescinded a $55,320.74 April contract with Singer Kittredge for a senior center kitchen hood and replaced it with a $112,913.75 revised contract that adds return air and cooling components, funded through a state legislative earmark from Representative Marcy and capital stabilization funds. An $86,418.68 intergovernmental water payment to the Town of Charlton passed 8-1, with Councilor Kelly publicly calling for the town to renegotiate the long-standing agreement, and a two-year airport restaurant lease with Airport Seafood and Grill, LLC at $1,000 per month was ratified unanimously.