Town Meeting Approves $87 Million FY27 Budget

Town Meeting · Meeting of May 18, 2026

Swampscott Town Meeting approved an $87,041,794 fiscal 2027 budget that uses $1.6 million in excess levy capacity. Finance Committee Chair Eric Hartman said the level-service budget cuts 1.5 town positions and one school position, and estimated the average single-family tax bill would rise $617 with the levy draw versus $346 without it. Members also approved an $11,709,310 capital plan, 11,709,310 after rejecting an amendment to strip $600,000 for accessibility work at the Burrell Street VFW relocation site; Housing Authority representative Charlie Patsios called the cut attempt "un-American." A $330,000 purchase of new automated recycling bins passed to avoid an estimated $470,000 a year in manual-pickup costs.

Town Meeting rejected, by show of hands, a citizens petition to ban wood fires on beaches and in yards after resident Sarah Incanazio warned it would turn "neighbors to play detective."

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Swampscott's community access TV: Town Meeting meeting, May 18, 2026
• The complete report: 904 words

Source: the Town Meeting meeting of May 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.