Sunderland reviews FY27 highway, police budgets
Sunderland Select Board and Finance Committee reviewed draft fiscal 2027 highway and police budgets, with no votes taken.
Select Board · Meeting of January 12, 2026
Sunderland Select Board and Finance Committee reviewed draft fiscal 2027 highway and police budgets, with no votes taken. Highway Superintendent George proposed a roughly $60,500 increase, warning that "if we go up with another 18% to 20% hike in our insurance, we're basically going backwards, like 10 years in pay." The police department's budget is projected to rise 12 percent, mostly to restore three months of pay cut last year ahead of hiring a seventh officer. The chief also pitched contracting Franklin County's regional animal control program for about $3,800 through June, saying "I would rather this program" than an independent hire.
Capital requests include a $74,500 cruiser, $10,650 in station repairs and a $78,000 grant application for a sidewalk tractor attachment.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 877 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of January 12, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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