Dalton Select Board Reviews Worst-Case FY27 Budget

Select Board · Meeting of February 3, 2026

Dalton's town manager unveiled a worst-case FY27 budget that could force police layoffs and leave a public works vacancy unfilled. Town Manager Eric told the Select Board state aid has fallen from about 12 percent of the budget in 2007 to roughly 5 percent today, while the Central Berkshire Regional School District is projecting a 9.9 percent increase that alone would push Dalton's overall budget up at least 4.5 percent. He said the town has about $375,000 of room left under its levy limit and would need to cut $200,000 elsewhere if the school figure holds.

Select Board member Tony Pagliarulo pushed to exclude $400,000 in existing town debt from the levy limit and floated a joint letter from the district's seven town managers asking schools to cap their increase at 2 to 4 percent. "I believe the local tax dollar is the best spent tax dollar," Pagliarulo said. No budget vote was taken; minutes and adjournment passed unanimously.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of February 3, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.