Duxbury adds $2M to FY26 budget with special town meeting votes

DUXBURY — Voters approved the transfer of $1.97 million from free cash and $118,000 from revenues into the fiscal year 2026 budget to pay for deficits and liabilities, public employee compensation and more at the special town meeting March 14. The transfer represents roughly 36% of available free cash.

All of the motions to transfer free cash into other accounts passed.

Record-breaking snowstorms demanded substantial snow and ice clearing efforts this winter, costing $703,969 more than the town allocated. Snow and ice is the only part of the budget that the town is allowed to overspend. The town transferred that amount from free cash to cover the deficit.

It also transferred $300,000 from free cash to the other post-employment benefits trust fund, which funds benefits owed to retired town employees other than pensions. Duxbury offers annuities, health insurance, and survivor benefits to retirees.

Another vote covering town employee payments was the transfer of $150,000 from free cash to the accrued liabilities and compensated absences fund, which is used to pay money owed to town employees upon the termination of their employment.

The town transferred $150,000 from free cash to the stabilization fund, and another $150,000 on any match gifts or grants the town might receive. Spending of that account is at the discretion of the select board or town manager.

To fund collective bargaining agreements from this year, the town transferred $512,000 from free cash and $118,000 from revenues generated by the Regional Old Colony Communications Center, which handles 911 calls and dispatching for Duxbury and several other towns.

Of the $630,000 transferred, $230,000 of that will go to Duxbury police, $118,000 to public safety dispatchers, $255,000 to firefighters, and $27,000 to library employees.

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