Southampton Select Board and Finance Committee scrutinize four department budgets under override pressure. At a February 19 joint session, the boards reviewed FY27 spending requests from the Council on Aging, Board of Health, Public Library, and Highway Department, with no votes taken.

Southampton Select Board signals a Proposition 2 1/2 override will be required to fund level services in fiscal year 2027.

Southampton Finance Committee reviews FY27 budgets for assessors, building, fire, and police departments with no new spending approved.

Southampton Select Board names Dowd Insurance Agencies as employee benefits broker in 3-0 vote. The board selected the Belchertown-based firm over competitor Pete Roth of Group Insurance Concepts after back-to-back presentations at the February 3 meeting, with board member John abstaining.

Southampton Select Board unanimously backs a new budget task force as FY27 uncertainties mount.

Southampton Select Board and Finance Committee jointly approved a $195,000 FY26 budget reduction for a January 10 special town meeting and heard a stark FY27 budget outlook projecting a $500,000 structural deficit.