Bellingham Select Board Faces $4.7 Million FY27 Budget Deficit at Saturday Workshop

BELLINGHAM — February 21, 2026 — Bellingham Select Board reviews a $4.7 million combined FY27 budget deficit, with an override looming. Town CFO Dennis Fraine and Town Administrator Joe Melo presented a general fund operating revenue of $84,619,047 against projected expenditures of $86,239,592, with health insurance costs rising 39.58 percent — a $3,316,396 increase — accounting for the majority of budget growth. School Superintendent Dr. Peter Moreno told the board that closing the school department's $3,092,614 deficit, even with a $400,000 town contribution, would require eliminating 31.3 full-time equivalent positions including 15.8 teachers, warning the cuts would push class sizes to 27 to 30 students and impair legally mandated IEP services. Fire Chief Miller warned that insufficient funding would force closure of the south fire station, creating potential 12- to 16-minute response times in the southern part of town. The board plans a joint session with the School Committee and Finance Committee on March 2 to evaluate reduction scenarios.