GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — After reviewing the Mayor Ginny Desorgher’s proposed FY26 budget, the Greenfield Ways and Means committee did not find much room for alterations.
The nearly $68 million budget was conservative as the city looks beyond FY26 with grant funding at risk and a possible future reduction in the city’s bond rating.
The Mayor’s proposed FY26 budget includes a 4.7% increase over the current fiscal year largely due to an approximately 16% increase in insurance rates, which the Mayor explained is due to employees using more insurance than the premiums paid into the plan. The other cost increases in the budget include higher retirement cost estimates, and collective bargaining wage increases.
Greenfield’s debt costs are approximately 7.48% of the overall budget, higher than many surrounding towns, and the during Wednesday’s Ways and Means Committee meeting, the Mayor’s presentation included ways to mitigate bonding by using creative solutions for funding like the utilization of the ambulance revolving fund to help pay for the Fire Department’s new truck and embracing shared services throughout the region.
The FY26 budget will be coming before the City Council for a public hearing on May 21st at 6:30 p.m. at the John Zon Community Center and via Zoom.