Maynard Finance Committee scrutinizes surprise $25 million water override in FY27 budget

MAYNARD -- January 26, 2026, Maynard's Finance Committee confronted a surprise $25 million water infrastructure override tucked into the town administrator's draft FY27 budget at its January 26 remote meeting. Chair Jillian Prendergast and member Peter Campbell noted the proposal, described as Phase 2 construction at the Rockland wellfield and treatment plant, had not appeared on the list of consensus capital priorities from last fall's joint board meeting, which centered on school and DPW roofs, the DPW garage, and the golf course. Campbell calculated that a projected 15 percent health insurance increase would consume roughly $900,000 of an adjusted $1.275 million revenue gain, leaving little margin for other needs. The committee noted the override would cost the average single-family homeowner an estimated $357 per year and pressed for Town Administrator Greg and water superintendent Justin to explain whether the investment would actually expand capacity for new development. The seven-member committee approved its January 12 minutes unanimously and will next meet jointly with the Select Board on February 7.