Marlborough Finance Committee cuts $510,000 from mayor's FY27 budget

MARLBOROUGH — May 11, 2026 — Marlborough Finance Committee trims $510,000 from the mayor's FY27 budget, sending a $222.4 million plan forward. The unanimous bottom-line vote followed a 4-1 cut of $200,000 from the reserve-for-salaries account, over the objection of Mayor J. Christian Dumais and Comptroller Brian Doheny, who warned pending retirements and a completed salary study require the money. Council President Austin argued the city is already running roughly $1.9 million under in salary accounts and that two consecutive years of steep tax hikes — about $590 last year and a projected $419 this year on the average single-family home — demand restraint, calling the combined increase "just over $1,000" in two years. Other cuts included $220,000 across electricity and gas in two maintenance budgets, $27,000 from fire, and $25,000 from police. The committee separately approved an $84.8 million school budget, a 2.5 percent increase, after Superintendent Dr. Del Falco and Business Manager Mohammed Siddiqui presented a plan adding 20 student-facing positions and four buses while cutting 8.5 administrative jobs.