Finance Committee votes 3-0 four times on new financial policies
Finance Committee · Meeting of September 10, 2026
Belchertown Finance Committee advances four new financial policies, targets cut in free cash reliance. Chair Brian Gibbons, Clerk Richard Kowal and member Katie Longley voted 3-0 four separate times to recommend policies on the budget process, reserves, free cash and capital stabilization to the Select Board. The free cash policy sets a goal of using no more than 30 percent of certified free cash for operating budgets annually, down from roughly 50 percent currently, well below the state's recommended 5 to 7 percent certification target.
One member called the state's higher recommendation "playing a game with your numbers." The reserves policy targets total reserves of 7 to 10 percent of the prior year's general fund budget. The committee also approved a $235 payment to the Association of Town Finance Committees and reviewed Schedule A data showing Belchertown spent more than $30,188,803 on education in fiscal 2025.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,171 words
Source: the Finance Committee meeting of September 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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