Chester approves $4M operating budget, five reserve transfers totaling $99K
misc · Meeting of June 8, 2026
Chester town meeting approves $4.05M FY27 operating budget after discussion of debt service structure. The vote, moved by Jill Strong and seconded by Barbara Huntoon, includes increased compensation for most elected officials: Select Board members will earn $2,790 annually, Health Board members $2,000, and Water Commissioners $1,500 each. Finance and Capital Planning Committee Chair Florence Bolduc and Board members noted Chester maintains the second-highest Select Board stipend in the Hilltowns.
The Town also approved five separate Free Cash transfers totaling $99,000 into stabilization and reserve funds, a $1,637,010 appropriation for Gateway Regional School District (down $64,000 from the prior year), and raised the demand bill fee from $5 to $15 to recover administrative costs.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 526 words
Source: the misc meeting of June 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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