Sturbridge Finance Committee backs $46 million budget, splits on library

Finance Committee · Meeting of March 19, 2026

Sturbridge Finance Committee backs a $46.1 million town budget and splits 5-2 on a library accessibility project. The panel unanimously recommended $23,545,648 in local school funding for the Tantasqua Regional and Burgess districts, with the superintendent warning "the funds aren't there" for further cuts if state rural aid falls through. Members also approved, 6-0-1, a $2.245 million CPA-funded trail bridge, $111,000 more than last year's version that won a 164-107 majority but missed the two-thirds threshold.

A library ADA and outdoor-deck project, budgeted up to $240,000, drew pushback from member Mike Hager, who called it "cobbled together," before passing 5-2. Finance Director Barbara Berry defended the town's reserve-fund policies after a member questioned compliance. Water and sewer budgets rose roughly 9 percent on new indirect-cost allocations.

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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of March 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.