Wednesday, December 10, 2025
The Berkley Financial Advisory Committee (FAC) met on December 10 to review the Town’s financial outlook, with a primary focus on budget expectations for FY2027.
FY2027 Guidelines Budget – Key Takeaway
The Committee discussed the Town’s guidelines budget framework, which requires that ongoing expenses be supported by recurring revenues. One-time sources such as free cash and stabilization funds cannot be used to sustain normal operations.
FAC emphasized that FY2027 will be significantly more challenging than recent years due to rising fixed costs that are largely outside local control, including health insurance, pensions, and school assessments. Current revenue growth is not keeping pace with these increases.
Department heads will again be asked to submit:
- A guidelines-based budget reflecting what can be sustained, and
- A needs-based request identifying additional pressures.
This process is intended to clearly show the gap between available resources and service demands.
Long-Range Planning
The Committee also reviewed five-year financial projections, which continue to show a structural budget gap under current assumptions. These projections are used to inform policy discussions and long-term planning.
Capital Planning
FAC discussed ongoing capital planning efforts, including prioritizing critical infrastructure and establishing a consistent annual funding target tied to the operating budget.
Opioid Settlement Funding
FAC supported moving forward with a $53,000 annual funding recommendation for the Problem Oriented Policing (POP) program, to be considered by the Select Board.
Additional Information
Presentation slides and supporting materials will be posted for those interested in a deeper review of the data and assumptions discussed.