Council flags tax hike in FY27 budget

Select Board · Meeting of May 20, 2026

Springfield's council comptroller confirmed the proposed FY27 budget would raise property taxes again. During a 12-department Committee of the Whole budget hearing, Comptroller Patrick Burns told councilors "there would be an increase in property taxes," prompting Councilor Govan to declare he "cannot approve a budget that is going to increase property taxes" for what he said would be an 11th consecutive year. Fire Commissioner B.J. Calvey presented a $31,132,173 budget and said firefighter test applicants dropped from 1,000 to "a little over 200." Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Colton-Harris detailed $1,660,000 in opioid settlement grants to local nonprofits.

Library Director Molly Fogarty presented a $6,218,167 budget, and Veteran Services head Joe DiCaro highlighted a new $1,683,796 budget funding the department's first VA claims specialist. No votes were taken.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Springfield's community access TV: Springfield City Council Committee of the Whole meeting, May 20, 2026
• The complete report: 775 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of May 20, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.