Saugus Finance Committee Eyes Extra Meeting to Clear Town Meeting Articles

Finance Committee · Meeting of April 15, 2026

Saugus Finance Committee flags $2.8 million employee benefits surge ahead of town meeting. Chair Kenneth DePatto led the committee through more than a dozen department budget lines at the April 15 session, noting that projected employee benefits are set to rise roughly 10 percent, from $19,785,180 to $22,279,877, in fiscal year 2027 — drawing DePatto's comment that "there are some things that are just not sustainable." The committee also discussed a roughly $750,000 annual debt service payment on the Northeast Regional school building currently absorbed by the town's operating levy rather than a debt exclusion, with DePatto recommending the Select Board put the question to voters. Upcoming debt issuances for a third fire station feasibility study, public safety radio infrastructure, and a new fire pumper were also previewed by Town Accountant Wendy.

DePatto announced a supplemental meeting next week to advance routine financial articles for annual town meeting, and said the school budget hearing, expected at the end of the month, will be held in the regular meeting room despite anticipated large turnout, citing a prior session that required a police response.

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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of April 15, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.