Southampton Boards Weigh Override Between $1.7 Million and $2 Million for FY27

Select Board · Meeting of March 12, 2026

Southampton's Select Board and Finance Committee met jointly Thursday to debate a Proposition 2.5 override expected to fall between $1.7 million and $2 million to balance a roughly $23 million FY27 budget. Town Administrator Scott presented a recommended budget anchored by an 8 percent increase for Norris Elementary — about $500,000 — after the Norris School Committee voted the night before to request a fully restorative budget of $6.7 million, some $377,000 above the task force's working figure. A $1.7 million override would add about $675 per year to the average household's tax bill; $2 million would add roughly $800.

Finance Committee member Reggie said he would not support an override above $500,000, while Select Board member Doug warned that a figure that low would cover little more than health insurance cost increases, forcing additional cuts to fire, police, and highway. Hampshire Regional School District votes its budget Monday, and the board is set to meet again Tuesday with both school figures in hand before setting a final override number.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of March 12, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.