Eastham Finance Committee Advances Wastewater Fund Debate, Reviews Three Departmental Budgets

Finance Committee · Meeting of February 5, 2026

Eastham's Finance Committee reviewed three departmental budgets and heard the Affordable Housing Trust formally decline to oppose a proposed Wastewater Infrastructure Investment Fund surcharge. Carolyn McPherson, chair of the Affordable Housing Trust, told the committee Thursday that the trust voted four to zero not to block the plan but warned that full implementation could cost the town roughly $140,000 annually in lost state Community Preservation Act matching funds — money she said is "desperately needed" for affordable housing at a time when 41 percent of Eastham households are classified as housing burdened. Budget coordinator Rich said the surcharge percentage may be set closer to 1.2 percent rather than the 1.5 percent initially proposed, with the combined CPA-plus-WIIF levy held at 3 percent of the property tax.

The CPA Committee voted six to two the prior evening to endorse the measure. Fire Chief Lisa Albino and Deputy Chief Eric Littman reported the department handled 2,200 calls for service in 2025 and secured a $67,000 federal grant to send four firefighters to paramedic school this September, while noting ambulance billing rates have not been raised since 2014.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 1,169 words

Source: the Finance Committee meeting of February 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.