Southampton Boards Back $195,000 Budget Cut, Eye $350,000 Capital Override

Select Board · Meeting of January 6, 2026

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. Town Administrator Scott told both committees the town can expect no more than $400,000 to $500,000 in new revenue under Proposition 2.5, with new growth dropping to below $100,000 and health insurance costs rising across town government, Norris Elementary, and Hampshire Regional High School. Scott presented a conceptual $350,000 permanent Proposition 2.5 override dedicated to capital expenses, noting the town's 10-year capital need has grown from $2.2 million to $7.5 million since FY11, and modeled the proposal on a recently passed $500,000 capital override in Belchertown.

The board also voted unanimously to appoint Robin Walden to the Conservation Commission, approved a long-sought full liquor license for Pure Food after a two-and-a-half-year process, and heard that the Conservation Commission has continued the hearing on a 40-acre, 9,500-panel solar project on Pleasant Street pending a wetlands peer review.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of January 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.