Budgets, Capital Requests And Citizens’ Petitions On Tap For Town Meeting

BREWSTER – While there is nothing out of the ordinary for the upcoming May 5 annual town meeting, a 21-article warrant contains much to discuss. 

The main topics will include budgets, community preservation committee funding, capital requests and special projects, zoning bylaw amendments, committee reports and three citizens’ petitions. 

Similar to years past, the budgets seeking approval at town meeting are the Cape Cod Technical Regional High School assessment, the operating budget for the two elementary schools, the Nauset Regional School District assessment, the town operating budget and two operating budgets through enterprise funds for the water department and golf department. 

 The Cape Cod Tech district-wide budget is up 5.7 percent this year with an increase in enrollment. Brewster’s student population grew by 10 students for the 2025-2026 school year, increasing the town’s assessment by 26 percent or $270,350. Due to the percentage share increase, the debt assessment rose by just under 13 percent. In total, Cape Cod Tech is requesting $1.8 million from Brewster for their 2026 operating budget in article three. 

 Operating expenses for Stony Brook Elementary and Eddy Elementary will be increasing by 4.2 percent, or 5.7 percent including staff benefits. Although there were some changes to the budget, school administrators and the Brewster school committee cut certain expenses to avoid an override. Enrollment in the elementary schools remains steady. Article 4 requests a total of $13.2 million for both elementary schools. 

 Article five seeks a 4.1 percent increase in operating funds for the Nauset Regional schools, or $13.8 million. The debt assessment will be decreasing by over $50,000, making the total budget ask for Brewster $17.2 million. According to Town Manager Peter Lombradi, instead of using one-time funds to balance the budget, the school will be using $1.75 million of excess and deficiency, which is the district’s version of free cash. This helped keep percentage increases down and avoid an override. Total enrollment for the schools is down 20 percent over the last five years and Brewster’s share is down for the second year in a row. 

 The proposed town operating budget has increased by 3.8 percent from the current fiscal year. Article six seeks approval of $27.7 million for town boards, committees and departments. Donna Kalinick, assistant town manager, noted the addition of two firefighters, which was initially recommended by a study conducted by the fire department. Most expenses were capped at two percent, but there were budget drivers like pension, health insurance and benefits. A more in-depth look at the operating budget is available at the town website under “budget & finance.”

 Operating budgets for the water department and golf department, including Captains Golf Course operations, are covered using enterprise funds. While articles seven and eight seek to approve operating budgets, all expenses are covered by user fees. The proposed water department budget increased by three percent, totaling $3 million. The water department does have a healthy reserve fund, which equates to free cash. The proposed golf department budget increased by five percent, totaling $4.8 million. Utility costs and material sourcing were the main drivers of the increase. 

According to the warrant, the estimated 2026 median residential tax bill will be around $5,297. 

Community preservation funding, capital expenses and special projects lead the appropriation requests on the town meeting warrant.

 Article nine looks to appropriate funding for CPC-reviewed projects. As always, CPC funds fall into three categories each receiving 10 percent: historic preservation, community housing and open space and recreation. 

This year, the Crosby Mansion is asking for $185,000 to cover chimney restoration and carpentry projects; $147,849 will come from the estimated 2026 revenues and $37,151 is from the historic preservation reserve. A repeat request seeks to help fund a part-time housing coordinator for $79,000. The remainder ($68,849) of the allotted 10 percent would be transferred into the housing reserve. The third request was sponsored by Nauset Youth Alliance and Brewster school committee for a replacement playground at Stony Brook Elementary School. The project prioritizes accessibility and safety due to the proximity to the Brewster Whitecaps’ field. The total project cost is $960,000, but they have requested to use $550,000 in CPC funding. The recreation department also requested $250,000 from the undesignated balance of CPA reserves to make the Freeman’s Way Fields walking paths wider and to update the picnic tables in the area. 

 Article 10 encompasses capital requests and special projects, mostly funded free cash, stabilization funds or retained earnings. The water quality stabilization fund would contribute $100,000 to expand the scope of the integrated water resource management plan (see petition articles below); an additional $35,000 covers the new section on wastewater, and $15,000 provides a more detailed model of public water supply capture areas in Zone II. These changes were made based on the Brewster Ponds Coalition’s citizens’ petition, which they are likely to postpone indefinitely come May 5.

 The elementary school is requesting $315,000 from free cash to fund technology equipment improvements, HVAC and electrical repairs, painting, design improvements and classroom modifications at the Eddy School and outdoor stair replacement at Stony Brook. These requests come in the spring to allow improvements to take place over the summer months. Nauset Regional School District is seeking $278,622 from the tax levy for their annual capital allocation, which broadly covers engineering, permitting, repair and maintenance. 

 Nine buildings on the Sea Camps properties have been labeled critical after a structural analysis was done. The town is hoping to allocate $150,000 to complete demolition of the remaining structures. 

 The water department is requesting $270,000 from its retained earnings to cover infrastructure upgrades, facilities projects, water meter replacements and a utility truck replacement. 

 Media services is seeking $30,000 to replace the cablecast server, which will come out of the cable fund. The department of public works is looking to use $70,000 of free cash for services associated with stormwater compliance. The council on aging will also be using $20,000 of free cash to replace the flooring on the second floor of its building. 

 The capital requests for Article 10 total $1.3 million. 

 Article 11 asks residents to approve $250,000 from available overlay funds to support the preschool family support pilot program after its success last year. The program helps cover the cost of preschool services for children ages three and four. 

Article 18 was based on a citizens’ petition sponsored by the Brewster Ponds Coalition (BPC). After assessing the current integrated water resource management plan (IWRMP) and criticizing the lack of wastewater-specific tasks, the BPC’s board put together a petition seeking $300,000 to conduct a town-wide comprehensive wastewater management plan. 

The petition was presented to the select board, which voted unanimously to not support the article at town meeting. Lombardi and town personnel continued talks with the BPC board and addressed their concerns with updates to the IWRMP. The BPC has said if the $100,000 to expand the scope of the plan is approved from the capital projects article, they will postpone the article. 

Madeline Zevon and Betsy Smith, two Brewster residents, brought forth a citizens’ petition asking to support legislation surrounding Medicare for All in Massachusetts. The single-payer system could have potentially saved $2 million in 2024, they say. Voting in favor of the article would support bringing non-binding resolution to Beacon Hill for consideration. 

Resident Ed Wanamaker filed a citizens’ petition requesting $35,000 from free cash reserves to purchase 800 electronic voting devices (also called clickers) for future town meetings. 

General Laws To Potentially Adopt

The warrant includes two articles related to the HERO Act, a comprehensive legislative package that supports veterans services and benefits. Article 13 asks residents to vote on adopting a local option that would automatically increase veterans’ tax exemptions. Currently, veterans receive exemptions ranging from $400 to $1,500 a year. Article 14 seeks approval of increasing the exemption by 50 percent. The select board has set a goal to increase that exemption to 100 percent by 2027. This would be a $25,000 impact on this coming year’s budget. According to the warrant, approximately 90 Brewster residents are eligible. 

Article 15 looks to clarify the water quality protection district section in the current zoning bylaw. Town Planner Jon Idman said the water quality protection district was created to protect water resources that exist in the area. It was originally adopted in 1982, principally for drinking water purposes. The district was amended in 2008 to include the Pleasant Bay watershed. The current proposed amendments will help to make the uses that could be undertaken in the district clearer and call out the prohibited uses in the district. 

 Articles 16 and 17 will present reports from the short-term rental task force and the Nauset regional agreement working group. 

 Article 20 seeks to establish a special education stabilization fund for the Nauset Regional School District to pay for unexpected special education expenses. In May 2022, town meeting voted to create a similar fund for the elementary schools in town. State law now allows the fund for middle and high schools. 

 Town meeting will be held on May 5 at Stony Brook Elementary School, starting at 6 p.m. Voters are encouraged to bring a copy of the warrant, which can be found on the town website or picked up from town hall. For more information, visit the town’s website.