Whitman Finance Committee Backs Public Safety Restorations, Reserve Fund Draw

WHITMAN -- January 6, 2026, Whitman Finance Committee backs special town meeting warrant articles and approves emergency fire department reserve transfer. The committee voted 7-1 to recommend Article 4, which restores $148,000 each to the Fire and Police departments using a combination of one-time funds, including $95,000 from a capital vehicle account, $176,214 from the ambulance purchase account, and $24,786 from the overlay surplus, with Finance Committee member raising the concern that approving the article commits roughly $296,000 in recurring spending with no identified recurring revenue source for fiscal year 2027. Town Accountant Mary Beth Satina clarified that the preliminary FY27 budget projections she circulated already incorporate those restorations, placing the projected deficit at approximately $1.28 million. The committee also approved a $17,595.66 reserve fund transfer to cover emergency pump panel repairs on a fire pumper truck, drawing the $35,000 reserve down to roughly $17,400 with five months left in the fiscal year. Articles 1 through 3, 5, 6, and 7 all passed 8-0; the police collective bargaining article was continued to a brief session before the special town meeting on January 13.