According to Town Administrator Andrew Golas’ town meeting report, total budgeted expenditures for Fiscal Year ‘26 are $44,039,388 reflecting a 6.3 percent increase from FY25. Key allocations include: General Government: $3,848,400 (7 percent increase); Public Safety: $7,487,900 (7.2 percent increase); Education $22,806,942 (8.3percent increase); Public Works $1,927,400 (0.7percent increase); Human Services $440,100 (3.5 percent increase); Culture and Recreation $648,700 (3.9 percent increase); Debt Service $966,646 (53.4 percent increase); Retirement and Insurance $5,913,300 (8.7 percent increase).

Golas’ report stated that this is a level-service budget with no new positions added. The primary cost drivers are reserves held in the Human Resources Budget for ongoing contract negotiations with Police, Fire, and DPW unions.  The public safety areas include a new police Administrative Sergeant and Emergency Telecommunicator as well as a new EMS Officer. The educational budget for the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District reflects a 3.9 percent increase with an assessment of $20,256,949 to Charlton an 8.9 percent increase of $1.7 million over FY25. Reference is made to state funding when the school district has received nothing more than the minimum Chapter 70 Aid as provided by the state funding formula which has also progressively eroded municipal operating budgets since 2008.

The Council on Aging (COA) Budget increased 5.3 percent for staffing and programming improvements. The town will transition meal services to Tri-Valley Elder Services at no cost reallocating savings to increase the Activities Assistant position to 24 hours weekly.

The 53.4 percent debt service increase is due to new bond issuances, including funding for the fire substation and landfill capping projects. Retirement Insurance and Healthcare costs increased by 19 percent, contributing to an overall 8.7 percent rise in benefits and pension contributions. 

If you were born in 1965, the Charlton Senior Center will be celebrating your birthday at the Senior Center while inviting you to learn about the benefits of being a senior and taking a tour of

the center. Appetizers and desserts will be provided along with live music with Jumpin’ Juba thanks to a grant from the Charlton Cultural Council. There will also be tables of information available from various agencies.

The town would like to advise its residents of local job openings which include an Assistant Library Director, Police Dispatcher, and Council on Aging Kitchen Coordinator. All job requirements can be found on the town website: townofcharlton.net and clicking on the Employment tab.

Residents are also invited to the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Charlton Fire Department Substation at 4 Oxford Road. The event will be held on Wednesday, June 18, at 4 p.m.

[email protected]