Finance Committee directs $75,000 Fire Department budget reduction
Essex Finance Committee directs Fire Department to cut $75,000 from FY27 budget proposal. Chair Jodi Harris and the Committee expressed concern over a 76 percent increase in Fire Department spending, citing questions about sustainability of the on-call staffing model following a 25 percent hike the
Finance Committee · Meeting of March 10, 2026
Essex Finance Committee directs Fire Department to cut $75,000 from FY27 budget proposal. Chair Jodi Harris and the Committee expressed concern over a 76 percent increase in Fire Department spending, citing questions about sustainability of the on-call staffing model following a 25 percent hike the prior year. The Committee suggested reductions in firefighter salaries, training, uniforms, and administrative hours.
Board of Selectmen budget decreased approximately $27,000 due to retirements, while Town Accountant budget increased to approximately $60,000 for audit services and new software support, and Town Clerk and Elections budget grew to accommodate the election cycle. Assessors' part-time salaries were scaled to $20,000 to provide limited support as needed.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 391 words
Source: the Finance Committee meeting of March 10, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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