Acushnet Finance Committee flags $200,000-plus deficit ahead of June town meeting

ACUSHNET -- March 26, 2026, Acushnet Finance Committee hears DPW budgets and flags a $200,000 to $400,000 general fund deficit before school costs are counted. DPW Director Dan Menard presented largely level-funded highway, solid waste, water, and sewer budgets at the March 26 meeting, with a fuel budget increase to $150,000 and a $20,000 uptick in water testing for required lead and copper work among the few notable changes. Snow and ice spending has already reached $332,776, and officials expect the final total, including bonuses of $1,000 per truck for roughly 15 private contractors and a spring salt purchase, to land between $350,000 and $360,000, well above the budgeted figure. With only about $300,000 in free cash remaining, Finance Committee Chairperson Michael R. Boucher and staff said the town has "a million and a quarter" in non-education needs against about $1 million in available revenues, leaving little room for capital articles at the June 15 town meeting.