Reading, MA — The Fiscal Year 2026 budget process got underway on Wednesday evening as five town departments presented their proposed budgets to the Select Board. Fire Chief Greg Burns started the process by sharing that his department has responded to 4,050 calls for service thus far in 2024, which includes 21 structure fires. Assistant Fire Chief Rick Nelson shared that the department anticipates no staffing changes for FY 2026. However, after a question from Board member Melissa Murphy, Nelson indicated that an additional ambulance may be needed in the future. The department is requesting an FY 2026 budget of $6,564,659, which is a 2.72% increase over FY 2025.
Burns was treated to a standing round of applause as this will be his final budget before his retirement in early 2025.
Police Chief David Clark was next, requesting a $8,063,850 budget for FY 2026, which is a 3.8% increase from FY 2025. Clark indicated that 95% of the requested increase is for personnel. Clark believes that the department will finish 2024 with more calls for service than in 2023; year to date, in 2024, the department has responded to 19,032 calls for service, compared to 20,068 in all of 2023.
Clark also presented a dispatch budget of $806,100, which is a 6.4% increase over FY 2025. Again, most of the increase comes from personnel.
Health Department director Adetokunbo Solarin presented a request for a $486,800 budget, $377,300 of which is salaries. It was noted that much of the 6.5% increase for this budget over FY 2025 is due to an existing nurse position being shifted to the Health Department from Elder and Human Services.
Director of Public Works Chris Cole requested a budget of $4,439,645 for his department, which is a 4.8% increase over FY 2025. He noted that the increase would only be 3.5% without the projected fuel increases. Cole also shared that the trash carts will be rolled out in April 2025 and that negotiations for the renewal of Reading’s trash, recycling, and disposal contracts will begin shortly.
Cole moved on to the water, sewer, and stormwater funds. The water budget is anticipated to need an increase of 8.2% to $5,106,750. Much of the increase is the purchase of water meters for the second meter program approved by the Select Board on Tuesday night. The additional expense for the meters that have been added to the budget will be offset by what residents acquiring the second meters will be charged for them. Cole anticipates a sewer budget of $7,169,571, a 3.8% increase over FY 2025, and a stormwater budget of $274,300, a 4.3% increase.
Assistant Town Manager Jayne Wellman invited each director in the Administrative and Public Services Department to give a brief review of their areas of responsibility before Wellman requested a $4,932,925 FY 2026 budget. This is a 3.04% increase over FY 2025. The board commended Town Clerk Laura Gemme for her smooth handling of the elections in the past year, and Director of Development Andrew MacNichol was praised for his leadership in shepherding the town toward the approved bylaw amendments, which will place Reading in compliance with the MBTA Communities law.
The Select Board adjourned at 9:30 p.m. and will reconvene for a second set of budget presentations on Tuesday, December 10, at 7:00 p.m.
