Pepperell Select Board Reviews Six Budgets, Police Cruiser Costs Drive Largest Increase

PEPPERELL — March 9, 2026 — Pepperell Select Board reviews six department budgets against a $502,000 fiscal year 2027 deficit. Meeting jointly with the Finance Committee on March 9, the board heard presentations from Inspectional Services, Police, Assessing, Conservation, Emergency Management, and Accounting, with Fire and Public Works deferred to Thursday. The largest increase came from the Police Department at 4.32 percent, driven almost entirely by the reinstatement of an $85,000 cruiser cut from last year's budget; Police Chief Lane said deferring the vehicle risks $55,000 to $60,000 in annual repair costs for an aging fleet that has gone 22 years without a new first-line vehicle. Conservation Director Alicia Tarasi reported Pepperell has met the state's open-space protection benchmark at 28 percent of land protected and described two priority culvert replacement projects — Sartell Road at approximately $750,000 and Sheffield Street at $1.2 million to $1.5 million — advancing through the state grant pipeline. Town Administrator Andrew disclosed that the regional public health contractor, Nashoba Associated Health, has raised its fee 30 percent this year, bringing that contract to $89,900, up from $43,000 in 2013.