Eastham Opens FY27 Budget Talks With $1.1M Override
Eastham's FY27 budget opens with a $1.1 million override needed just to balance the books.
Select Board · Meeting of January 5, 2026
Eastham's FY27 budget opens with a $1.1 million override needed just to balance the books. Assistant Town Manager Rich Bienvenue told a joint Select Board and Finance Committee session the town's $51.5 million level-service budget is squeezed by health insurance, pension and education costs rising far faster than the roughly 3 percent revenue growth allowed under Proposition 2 1/2. Select Board member Bob Bruns pressed staff on whether "extra" money could close the gap without new taxes; Bienvenue said the shortfall is recurring and can't be solved with one-time reserves.
The override alone would add roughly 4.3 to 4.5 percent to tax bills, with more possible once school assessments and union contracts are finalized. The board also opened the town meeting warrant and cleared two routine licenses, all by 4-0 votes.
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Source: the Select Board meeting of January 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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