Updated May 12, 2025: Budget is now available on the website here.

Where Your Money’s Going: Breaking Down the Budget Ahead of Blackstone’s Town Meeting

As Blackstone’s Annual Town Meeting approaches on May 27, the Finance Committee has been meeting with town departments to review and discuss the proposed FY2026 budget. Over the course of four meetings—on April 9, April 15, April 24, and May 5—committee members, town officials, and department leaders tackled everything from school funding and staff compensation to roads, equipment, and rising costs.

📝 This article is part of a special Small Town Post series where we’ll be breaking down Blackstone’s Town Meetings—what’s on the warrant, what the budget means, and how it all impacts you. Our goal is to keep things clear, local, and easy to understand so more residents can feel informed and empowered to take part.

Let’s walk through what’s being proposed, what’s changing, and what it all means for you.

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A Quick Look Back: FY2025 Budget Breakdown

Last year’s approved General Fund budget was about $30 million, not including water and sewer. The biggest portions of that were:

• Schools (BMRSD) – $11.9M (38.94%)
• Capital Trust – $2.6M (8.64%)
• Police – $2.1M (6.99%)
• Fire – $1.5M (5.10%)
• Health Insurance – $912K (2.98%)

Those five categories made up more than 60% of the FY 2025 town-approved budget.

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The FY2026 Budget Proposals

Looking ahead, the proposed FY 2026 expenses total $34,601,710, reflecting a 4% increase from last year’s approved budget of $33,391,285. The list below highlights some key budget proposals, but it’s important to remember that this is only a snapshot of the full budget, which includes a broader range of allocations aimed at fostering community growth and stability. Once publicly available, the full budget will provide a more comprehensive view of how funds will be allocated across various sectors.

Regional Schools: funding changes, enrollment trends, and key financial challenges

Blackstone Valley Tech (BVT)

• FY26 Assessment: $867,852 – an increase of $127,805 or 17.27%.
• Enrollment is stable, but Blackstone still has the third lowest per-pupil contribution among the 12 member towns.
• Finance discussions noted concern over federal grants that help fund BVT—especially Perkins Act funding—which is unpredictable due to potential federal changes. About 28% of BVT’s grant and donation income is federally funded, so changes could impact local assessments in future years.

Blackstone-Millville Regional School District (BMRSD)

• Enrollment is climbing, now around 1,500 students. Interest in BVT has dropped (only 22 applications this year compared to the usual 60), suggesting local high schools are doing more to retain students.
• State aid (Chapter 70) saw a big increase: $614,058 this year.
• FY26 Budget Total: $32,054,718, an increase of $2,196,885 or 7%.

Additional funding comes from:

• Entitlement Grants
  • For example:
    • Title I ($213K): Supports instruction in schools with higher numbers of low-income students, reducing the need for local funding.
    • IDEA ($460K): Helps cover out-of-district tuition for students with IEPs, easing pressure on the general budget.
• Offsets: Circuit breaker reimbursement ($733K), prepaid tuition, and use of fund balances

Two articles were added to the Town Warrant:

• $120K for a plow truck, which will also be used for landscaping and utility work.
• $70K for age-appropriate playground equipment at the middle school.

Library: Doing More Than Just Asking

• Total Budget Request: $690,826
• Modest increases in wages:
  • 5% raise for the Assistant Director and Custodian, both long-tenured staff members who have been partially funded by grants.
  • 3% for full-time staff and the Library Director.
• Operating expenses increased due to vendor shutdowns (calendar, website).
• Books and periodicals saw an increase due to union changes—this line is 90% of the operating budget.

The library made it clear: they’re not just asking for more—they’re also finding ways to save the town money:

• They fund 3 staff members with grant money (~$20K/year)
• State aid and LSTA grants covered over $39K last year
• Staff scholarships for conferences saved the town $4,400 in 2024, with more to come in 2025
• Free college classes used by staff saved another $1K in tuition

This proactive approach helps offset costs that would otherwise fall on taxpayers.

Fire Department: Overtime and Urgent Replacement

Due to two open positions, the department is already $84K over its $250K overtime budget and has requested a 35% increase (an additional $75K) for overtime next year.

One-time expense: $40,185 to replace a critical NAR dispatch alarm box, which is at end-of-life and used for fire alarms in schools and multi-family buildings.

The department has been actively recruiting to fill vacancies—if you’re interested in serving the community, consider reaching out and applying.

Police Department: Updates and Revenue

Most of the department’s budget increase comes from negotiated contracts, including approximately 3% raises across the board—but that’s not the only factor driving costs.

The department is also planning vehicle replacements:

• A new cruiser ($75,839) through a 3-year lease-to-own agreement
• Two additional cruisers ($100K total), included in this year’s Town Warrant, to replace six aging vehicles

The Town Collector/Treasurer emphasized that these aren’t just sitting in a lot—detail cruisers are used for paid police details by companies like Verizon and National Grid. Two years ago, detail work brought in nearly $30,000. It’s a reminder that not all department assets are just expenses—some generate revenue for the town.

DPW: Essential Infrastructure and Equipment

The Department of Public Works (DPW) budget sees union-driven salary increases, such as the rise in highway labor from $651,809 to $719,280. Concerns arose over discrepancies in individual pay raises, including a 23% increase for one truck driver.

Key articles in this year’s Town Warrant include:

• St. Paul Street Bridge Design – $300K (addressing aging and heavily used infrastructure)
• Lake Hiawatha Dam Repairs – $50K (reclassified as high hazard)
• Sander/Plow Truck Supplement – $60K (additional funding to rising costs)
• Pavement Reconstruction – $300K (Federal Street, a bus route)
• Water Meter Replacement – $1.5M (replacing 2,800+ aging meters with remote-reading systems)

These investments reflect the ongoing need to improve and maintain the town’s essential infrastructure and equipment.

Parks & Recreation: Budget Needs and a Divided Proposal

The Parks & Recreation budget includes some important staffing and operational updates—plus one controversial proposal for Roosevelt Park that drew split opinions between the Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen.

Budget Requests & Staffing Updates

• The department is requesting funding to support:
  • A part-time staff member (19 hours/week for 39 weeks) to help with year-round responsibilities
  • Continued funding for seasonal workers, which has been harder to fill in recent years

While early meetings referenced a limited part-time role, as of the date of publishing (May 8, 2025), Parks & Rec is seeking an increase in hours to bring on help earlier in the year—rather than waiting for high school students to become available.

These staffing updates are needed to keep pace with expanding responsibilities, including new and upgraded playgrounds, planned programs, and future amenities or projects.

Additionally, transportation wages were restored this year to help bring seniors to Parks & Rec events.

Controversial Proposal: Roosevelt Park Lighting & Electrical

One warrant article proposes funding for electrical upgrades and possible lighting installation at Roosevelt Park—a move that has sparked debate.

The article was submitted by the Board of Selectmen without formal review by Parks & Recreation, raising concerns about process and oversight. Supporters say the existing electrical system may pose safety risks, and upgrades could prevent potential fire hazards that threaten nearby amenities like the new playground and bike path. They also see lighting as a way to boost community use of the park in the evenings.

Finance Committee members noted a lack of documentation on the system’s condition and questioned whether the proposal reflects Parks & Rec’s priorities or if we have enough information to understand what the budget needs to be.

While the Parks & Recreation department is open to improvements, they’ve emphasized the importance of being involved in the process and ensuring that any project is responsibly scoped and budgeted.

A lighting plan for the baseball field was shared with Small Town Post by former Selectman Tanya Polak, who reached out to provide the proposal. It outlines the number of poles and LED fixtures needed. You can view the proposal here (PDF). Note that nothing is final at this time. To learn more, contact the Board of Selectmen or attend the May 12 public hearing or the May 27 Town Meeting.

Board of Health: Modest Increases and Trash Program Prep

The Board of Health budget includes several small but important updates:

• Stipends: The chair’s stipend will increase by $500, and the two elected members by $600 total—bringing the total stipends to $1,500 for the Chair and $2,400 for 2 Members.
• Health Agent: During the meeting it was said that while this line may appear to show a significant increase, it only adds a 5-hour-per-week and indicates a 27% increase from FY2025 budget.
• Visiting Nurse Services: A $786 increase supports contractual services like COVID and flu shots, and in-home blood pressure checks for homebound residents.
• Landfill Maintenance:
  • Farm Street landfill: Increased by $3,500 to repair exposed pipes that release gas.
  • Chestnut Street landfill: Decreased by $5,000 due to lower expected maintenance costs.
• Trash Program Rollout: Additional funds were requested for advertising and supplies to support a new trash and recycling program. While the Board of Selectmen has not yet signed the contract, the target start date for single-stream recycling is July 1. There will be no cost to residents, and each household will receive new bins.

These changes reflect the department’s ongoing public health work as well as preparation for town-wide updates to waste and recycling services.

Council on Aging / Senior Center: Staffing and Support Services

• Staffing Updates: A 3% increase is budgeted for non-union positions, including the COA Director role—which is currently vacant. Some questioned why the salary for an unfilled position would be increased, rather than hiring at the base rate. In response, the Town Administrator explained that recruitment across boards and departments has been difficult, and pay remains a significant factor. The town attempted to fill this role last summer and found that competitive compensation is key to attracting qualified candidates that will stay. He strongly recommended keeping the increase in place to help hire the best possible person for the job.
• Nutrition & Activities Coordinator: This union position will see a 9% salary increase under the current contract.
• Transportation Services: Part-time wages are increasing by 3%. The town employs six part-time drivers at a total cost of $61,500. Maintaining these positions as part-time ensures full coverage without the cost of full-time hires. These drivers are vital for helping seniors get to medical appointments, community events, and other outings—playing a key role in supporting independence and social engagement.

Town Clerk: Salary Increase Tied to Survey Data

The Town Clerk’s office is proposing salary changes based on outside compensation surveys and union agreements:

• Town Clerk salary: $82,500 — a 23% increase from last year’s approved $66,903
  • Based on a salary survey factoring in population, voter count, and experience
• Assistant Town Clerk: 12% increase (union)
• Office Assistant: 21% increase (union)
• Total proposed budget: $186,510

Finance Committee expressed concern: With multiple data sources (union contracts, state surveys, and a town-funded compensation study), members questioned how to apply raises fairly and consistently—case by case, or wait for a broader implementation in coming years?

Town Collector / Treasurer: Salary Increase and Study Comparisons

The proposed FY2026 budget for the Town Collector/Treasurer’s office includes a significant salary increase and reflects comparisons to statewide benchmarks.

• FY25 Salary Budget (approved last year): $146,578
• Proposed FY26 Salary Budget: $180,310 — a 23% increase
• The increase accounts for unionized positions and aligns with data from the Massachusetts Treasurer/Collector Association, which considers town size and overall municipal budget
• Expense line: Decreased significantly to $29,400, helping offset the salary increase

This is another example of how external salary studies are influencing budget decisions, which has raised broader questions among Finance Committee members about how to apply such studies fairly across all departments.

General Fund: Trash & Recycling Gets an Update

You may have heard that Blackstone is moving to single stream recycling—where all recyclables go into one bin. This change is part of a new (proposed) curbside trash and recycling contract that’s reflected in the proposed FY2026 budget.

• 15% overall increase to the solid waste line
  • 10% increase for regular trash collection
  • 35% increase for recycling pickup
  • 142% increase for municipal building dumpsters
• The new contract also includes 7,800 new recycling totes (96- or 90-gallon bins), which are part of the upcoming contract terms and is not in a budget line item

While there are no major changes to how the service will operate for residents, the new contract comes at a higher cost due to market shifts in recycling, service upgrades, and equipment needs. Note: contract is not yet signed at time of publishing.

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Compensation Studies and Salary Increases

Many department budgets referenced union contracts, compensation studies, or statewide salary surveys. Several positions saw increases justified by:

• Union negotiations (e.g., Assistant Town Clerk, Office Assistant, and COA staff)
• Salary surveys (e.g., Town Clerk, Treasurer/Collector)
• Compensation studies commissioned by the town

The Finance Committee repeatedly raised an important question: how should the town respond to all these data sources? Should raises be handled case-by-case? Should we hold off and act more comprehensively next year? How do we balance fairness with what the town can afford?

A Note of Caution

Many departments are finding creative ways to offset costs—from using grant money, to applying for reimbursements, to holding off on equipment purchases. But if federal or state grants disappear, departments like BVT and the Library could face tighter budgets and greater reliance on town funds.

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Why the May 12 Public Hearing Matters

The decisions being made in this year’s budget impact everyone in town—whether you’re a parent, a senior, a commuter, or a taxpayer. From school programs and road repairs to emergency services and local staffing, these choices shape everyday life in Blackstone.

📍 Public Hearing
🗓 Monday, May 12 at 6:30 PM
📌 Blackstone Town Hall

This is your chance to ask questions, raise concerns, and share your input—before anything is finalized. Waiting until Town Meeting may be too late to make changes. The public hearing is where real conversations happen, and your voice can influence the outcome.

Don’t just comment on Facebook—show up, speak up, and be part of the process.

Complaining on Facebook won’t fix a broken road or save a budget line—showing up will.

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We’ve watched all four Finance Committee meetings and pulled together the information as accurately as possible. If we’ve missed something or made an error, please let us know so we can correct it. We’d love for you to join the conversation in the comments!