BCAT News

Schools were the recurring theme of the first two evenings of the 2026 May Town Meeting.

The evening of May 11 with opening remarks from Bill Beyer, which touched on the history of local government and the American Revolution.

Article 1, Reports of Committees, included updates from Government Review Committee Chair Betsey Hughes (Have you taken their survey?) and Town Administrator John Danizio with an overview on the budget for Fiscal Year 2027.

At May Town Meeting, the town approves its operating and capital budgets for the year. As expected, those budget articles carried us through the first two nights. Article 2 covers the operating budget, most of which passed with little discussion.

There were some questions from members regarding budgets of Central Administration, Planning Board, and the Police Department, but the majority of discussion generated from the budgets for Burlington Public Schools, and Shawsheen Technical High School.

Members of Town Meeting expressed concerns with the delay of documentation to them from the Schools (Schools met with Ways & Means at their last meeting prior to Town Meeting, opposed to last year when they met mid-April). There was also a debate of materials being available online vs in print for Town Meeting members. Many requested a presentation from the schools to it being such a large percentage of the town’s operating budget, and there was a move to postpone voting on the budget to the next evening, May 13. The motion failed.

After almost an hour of discussion, the budget for Burlington Public Schools passed. 

Night two wrapped up the approval of the operating budget (Article 2), and Town Meeting moved onto Article 3 (Capital Budget). The bulk of the evening’s discussion revolved around Simonds Park Renovation & Improvement Designs, and the proposed Assistant Director position included in the Council on Aging’s budget.

Jump below to see a specific part from the first two nights of May Town Meeting. Town Meeting will resume Monday May 18 at 7 pm.

May 11 –

Meeting Called to Order
Opening Remarks from Moderator Bill Beyer
Article 1, Reports of Committees (Government Review)
Article 1, Reports of Committees (Town Administrator)
Swearing in Of New Town Meeting Members
Comments from Ways & Means Chair Doug Davison on FY27 Operating Budget
Article 2, FY 2027 Operating Budget (Overview)
Myrna Minute (Recess)
Meeting Resumes
Article 2, (149, Central Administration, Post-Retirement Benefits)
Article 2 (175, Planning Board)
Article 2 (210, Police)
Article 2 (300, Local Education)
Article 2 (Special Education)
Article 2 – (301, Regional School Assessments – Shawsheen Technical)

May 13 –

Meeting Called to Order
Article 2, FY27 Operating Budget (400 Dept. of Public Works (DPW))
Article 2 (DPW Trash Removal)
Article 2 (541, Council on Aging)
Article 2 (549, Youth & Family Services)
Article 2 (610, Public Library)
Article 2 (6301/631, Recreation)
Article 2 (710, Debt Service)
Article 2, (Ways & Means Reserve Fund)
Article 2 (Middlesex Retirement)
Article 2 (Negotiated Settlements)
Article 2 (Local Transportation)
Article 3-1 (Public Building Accessibility & Security)
Article 3-2 (Council on Aging Fitness Equipment)
Article 3-3 (Conservation – Land Management & Acquisition Program)
Article 3-4 (Conservation – Hazard Mitigation Program)
Article 3-5 (Fire – Command Vehicle)
Article 3-6 (Fire – Cardiac Monitor Equipment Replacement)
Article 3-7 (DPW – Side-Arm Brush Mower Attachment)
Article 3-8 (DPW – Drainage Repair/Stream Cleaning)
Article 3-9 (DPW – PFAS Filtration Replacement)
Article 3-10 (DPW – Mill Pond Filter Sand Replacement)
Article 3-11 (DPW – Water Meter Replacement Program)
Article 3-12 (DPW – Vehicle Replacement Program)
Article 3-13 (DPW – Facility Asset Inventory & Software)
Article 3-14 (DPW – Greenleaf Water Tank Rehab Design)
Article 3-15 (DPW – Sewer Pump Station& Generator Replacement)
Article 3-16 (Historical – West School Storage Shed) Postponed)
Article 3-17 (Recreation – Simonds Park Reno and Improvement Design)
Article 3-18 (Recreation – Athletic Fields Improvement Program)
Article 3-19 (Recreation – Fencing, Walkway, and Tree)
Article 3-20 (Recreation – Maintenance Equipment Replacement)
Article 3-21 (Recreation – Renovate and Repurpose Ceramics Room)