Lakeville Select Board Reviews $645,000 Budget Gap, Weighs Override

Select Board · Meeting of March 3, 2026

Lakeville weighs a $2.5 million to $4 million override against a $645,000 budget gap, but punts the decision. Acting Town Administrator Andrew told the Select Board and Finance Committee that a level-funded fiscal 2027 budget would give schools only $400,000 of their original $2.5 million request and still leave the town $645,000 short, with fixed costs of $571,000 for health insurance and retirement alone. A $2.5 million override would raise the average $6,097 tax bill by $494 a year; a $4 million override would add $788.

One official warned roughly 40 job cuts would be needed without any override. "We have basically no override, or if it fails, we have a $2.5 million override scenario, and then a $4 million scenario," Andrew said. The boards deferred a final number to a March 5 joint meeting with Freetown, with 35 days needed to call an election before the April 6 town vote.

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• The complete report — 887 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of March 3, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.