Groveland Finance Committee Opens Budget Season, Hears Three Department Requests

GROVELAND -- February 25, 2026, Groveland Finance Committee kicks off FY27 budget season with library dues spike and $15 million water fund news. The committee heard presentations from three departments Wednesday without taking votes on any figures, scheduling a potential operational budget vote for March 11. Library Director Darcy Lepore told the board that dues to the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium jumped 29 percent, far above the historic three-to-five percent range, due to planned technology migrations including a new integrated library system and a shift to Google Workspace; trustees present endorsed the consortium membership unanimously by show of hands. Water and Sewer Committee representative Colin Stokes announced Groveland has been accepted into the state revolving fund for $15 million toward its planned PFAS and iron-and-manganese treatment facility, which Stokes said would save roughly $300,000 annually in interest, or $6 million over 20 years, the first time the town has been positioned to actually accept the award after two prior unsuccessful attempts. Town Treasurer and Collector Michelle Began reported reducing the town's tax title backlog from more than 35 accounts to 21 in four years, with at least one property sale planned for the upcoming Town Meeting warrant.