Natick Board Blends Cuts, Free Cash for FY28 Gap
Select Board · Meeting of September 30, 2026
Natick Select Board splits 4-1 to blend cuts and free cash for FY28 budget gap. Finance Director Skye forecast an $800,000 shortfall for fiscal 2028 despite new growth coming in at $2.3 million, above a projected $1.5 million. Member Jacobs pushed to use free cash now and find cuts later, saying he was "uncomfortable with the idea of sort of voting for cuts site unseen," but was outvoted as the board directed a blended approach instead.
The board also adopted revised financial management principles 5-0, targeting a 2032 end to using free cash for operations and restructuring funding for a $150 million OPEB liability. Separately, the board promoted Officer Derrick Kane to sergeant and Sergeant Jason Sutherland to lieutenant, adopted a new crisis communication plan after a bias incident cost 32 staff hours, and endorsed $1,243,500 in Community Preservation funds for South Natick Park despite the Finance Committee declining to recommend it.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,399 words
Source: the Select Board meeting of September 30, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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