Finance Committee approves three warrant articles for town meeting

Finance Committee · Meeting of March 26, 2026

Sturbridge Finance Committee recommends three town meeting articles, tables a tax rate fight on a 7-1 vote. The committee voted 8-0 to send a $20,000 Big Alum Lake water quality study to town meeting after Tim Harrington, environmental chair of the Big Alum Lake Association, described worsening weeds and algal blooms on the 200-acre lake. Members also voted 8-0 to recommend snow and ice removal costs and to reconsider a prior "no action" stance on a contract whose bids do not open until April 14.

A push to discuss the town's split tax rate, currently 15 percent commercial versus 85 percent residential, was tabled 7-1 after members said the Board of Selectmen and assessor needed to be present. Minutes from February 17 were accepted 6-0 with two abstentions.

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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of March 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.