Capital Spending Shortfall Anticipated for Coming Years

Report on the Meeting of the Joint Capital Planning Committee, April 23, 2025

This meeting was held over Zoom and was recorded.

The Joint Capital Planning Committee (JCPC)  finalized its recommendations to the Town Manager for capital spending for fiscal year 2026 at its April 23 meeting. The committee recommended $6.76 million to finance capital projects in FY 26. After allowing for debt service on previously approved projects, $4.5 million remains for new projects. JCPC Chair Cathy Schoen (District 1) noted that when construction of the three major capital projects (Jones Library, DPW, and fire station/EMS) begins, only $3 million annually is projected to be available for capital expenses. This reduction, combined with inflation, means the useable amount of the capital budget will be significantly less than it has been in recent years. 

Several expenditures were deferred to future fiscal years. These include improvements to Puffers Pond, the redesign of South East Street near the new elementary school, and the playgrounds at Mill River and the War Memorial. The committee hoped that grant money could be used to help fund these projects in the future. 

The committee recommended $450,000 to plan for sixth graders moving to the middle school in the fall of 2026. Previously, $500,000 of ARPA money had been reserved for this objective, but this money is no longer available. The town also moved $2.5 million in unspent ARPA funds to the general fund and earmarked that amount for improvements to the Bangs Center. Therefore, the $500,000 for the Bangs Center improvements was removed from this year’s capital plan. An additional $227,000 was added for road repair, although Town Councilor Bob Hegner (District 5) noted that this sum was not nearly enough to prevent ongoing deterioration of the roads.

JCPC member Nat Larson (Jones Library Trustee) questioned the inclusion of the roof replacement on the middle school in the recommended funding, because the middle school is part of the regional school district and not wholly owned by the town. Most of the committee felt that the roof replacement was a priority and noted that some of the facilities at the school, such as the gym and the auditorium, are used by the town. The committee recommended that surplus free cash be allotted to the roof replacement. Surplus free cash is certified in the fall.

Other JCPC priorities for the use of the surplus funds, if they are available, are redesign of South East Street, urgent repairs for Crocker Farm Elementary school, road repair, and vehicle purchases. The FY26 recommendations reduced the acquisition of new town vehicles from six to two, with the recommendation that the town develop a policy to assess requests for new vehicles. School Committee member Bridget Hynes stated that vehicle purchases should prioritize those models that are most reliable and fuel efficient, but Hegner noted that choices may be limited when purchasing police vehicles, because only a few companies manufacture properly equipped models. 

Resident Capital Requests Discussed
JCPC received 10 requests from residents for capital projects. Most involved traffic calming and road safety. There were also requests to repair the Tan Brook culvert on Fearing Street, for gardening support at Butternut Farm, and for a sign to identify the historic area at Cushman Village. The DPW reviewed the requests and noted that the department already has a backlog of traffic calming measures. JCPC added an additional $50,000 to the DPW budget for traffic calming.

As for some of the residents’ requests, the DPW stated that the Tan Brook culvert repair was a major project involving state permitting and could not be funded from the DPW’s operating budget. The Butternut Farms gardening project is not appropriate for capital funds, because it is on private property, and the DPW can install a sign at the Cushman Village, but does not create signs. The DPW also noted that the request for speed bumps on Station Road might impede emergency vehicles and would require town approval. Additional street lighting on Dana Street could be installed with Town Council approval.

Library Trustee Lee Edwards questioned if JCPC was the correct place for residents’ requests to be evaluated. Each department has their own priorities, she said, and it might make sense for the requests to go to the appropriate department or committee. The committee will discuss a process to handle requests from residents in the future.

School Committee member Sarah Marshall requested that JCPC receive an accounting of projects that were funded but not completed over the previous three years, so that the money allocated to those projects could be reallocated to other projects.