Select Board approves zero-based budget for FY2028

Select Board · Meeting of October 22, 2026

West Newbury's Select Board approved zero-based budgeting for the fiscal 2028 municipal budget. Interim Town Manager Sean R. Fitzgerald recommended starting early, estimating departments would need 60 to 90 days to itemize lines by position, hours and expense. The board also moved the Finance Assistant/Payroll and Benefits Coordinator job to grade F, a range of $61,250 to $87,510, and asked for narrowed police retention proposals after hearing that other towns use repayment agreements of $5,000 to $7,000.

A resident for the Riding and Driving Club called the new permit timelines "onerous," and library architects set an Oct. 29 community meeting on three design options.

In the full story:

• Public Comment
• Library Facilities Master Plan
• Budget Approach and Timeline
• Grade Assignment for Finance Assistant
• Police Department Retention and Recruitment
• BCC Chairs Meeting, Handbook and Charge Form
• Special Event and Facilities Permit Application
• Well Exploration Proposal
• Immediate Term Workplan and Manager's Report
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,602 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of October 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.