Budget time: Paring wish lists to hard numbers

Assistant Chief Financial Officer Ryan Ferrara says that during budget season, it’s like a sickle hangs outside his office. 

It’s “as if Death has shown up and has to say ‘no’ to a lot of things,” he told the Finance Committee.

Ferrara and Town Manager Kerry Lafleur have met with department heads in recent weeks, compiling a wish list. Now they must whittle an array of requests into a final budget. 

Lafleur presented an early suite of possible additions in the 2027 fiscal year budget in September, including slots for a new deputy police chief and a public records administrator.

Ferrara reiterated those options at an October 30 FinCom meeting — plus one more.

Officials are now also considering an “IT business knowledge manager.” Ferrara said the position could help with software conversions and upgrades. 

The town had an IT business analyst, but officials nixed that in last year’s budget process to cut costs. The new gig would have a different focus, according to Ferrara’s presentation.

Ferrara faced pushback, with FinCom’s Peggy Briggs tallying close to $700,000 in projected salaries from suggested new posts. 

“We worked really hard to undo positions,” she said, referencing recent cuts. “It looks like you’re putting some positions back.” 

Ferrara emphasized that officials still must review requests. “We can’t simply say ‘yes’ to everything,” he said, “nor do we intend to.” 

Ferrara told FinCom that town officials aimed to deliver a budget with between a 3% and 3.5% increase over fiscal ’26. Panelists urged municipal brass to dig deeper — and save taxpayers money — by backing an early recommendation for only a 2.5% bump. 

Ferrara was Acton’s interim chief financial officer until Monday, November 3, when the town’s new CFO — Jennifer Barrett — started work.

Officials expect to finalize the fiscal ’27 town budget in December for approval at Town Meeting in April.