November 11, 2025

2026 Annual Town Meeting & FY27 Budget Timeline

2026 Annual Town Meeting & FY27 Budget Timeline

Budget season for 2026-27 is already underway – we’ll keep our timeline updated as the year progresses so you can follow along.

2026 Annual Town Meeting Timeline & FY 27 Budget Calendar

September 23, 2025Town Manager gains consensus on budget timeline with Select Board, Appropriation Committee and School Committee. (Charter § 7-2(a))
Budget message discussion.
Town Manager issues Budget Schedule before Oct. 1.
October 1, 2025Deadline for establishing and issuing budget schedule (Charter § 7-2(a))
October 7, 2025Town Manager and Select Board develop budget message.
October 9, 2025CFO distributes budget materials.
October 9, 2025Deadline to submit CPC applications
November 1, 2025Municipal Services budgets due to Town Manager.
November 4, 2025Select Board discusses its potential articles, including any General Bylaw changes
November 4, 2025Select Board Budget Listening Session
November 17, 202510 Year capital plans due to CIC. (3rd Monday of November – Bylaw § 5-22)
November 18, 2025Town Manager CIP review.
November 18, 2025CPC capital requests due to CIC
December, 2025Town officials and multiple member bodies may submit draft warrant articles to Town Counsel for review and comment (S.B. policy).
December 2, 2025Select Board discusses its own potential articles, including any General Bylaw changes.
December 16, 2025Select Board vote to open the ATM warrant on January 2, 2025 (or before). (120 days before ATM)
Select Board discusses its own potential articles, including any General Bylaw changes.
December 18, 2025School Superintendent presents budget. Joint Meeting – Select Board, School Committee and Appropriation Committee
December 19, 2025Town Manager completes Municipal Services budget review.
December 19, 2025CIC & CPC complete capital hearings and submit to Town Manager.
January 2, 2026ATM Warrant opens. Submission of proposed warrant articles begins.
January 6, 2026Select Board discusses its own potential ATM articles.
January 8, 2026School Committee. Select Board & Appropriation Committee will attend. (Public Meeting)
January 20, 2026Select Board review its own ATM articles; vote to submit own articles into warrant.
January 20, 2025Town Manager submits a consolidated budget to the Select Board.
January 22, 2026School Committee Votes FY 26 Budget
January 23, 2026School budget submitted to Town Manager
February 1, 2026ATM Warrant closes (90 days before ATM, Charter § 2-3).
●      All petitions for warrant articles submitted to Town Clerk for signature confirmation.
●      Town Manager refers all appropriation articles to Appropriation Committee.
●      Select Board refers voter petitions to Board of Registrars (MGL c.39 § 10).
●      Select Board refers all zoning articles to Planning Bd. within 14 days of submission (MGL c.40A § 5).
February 3, 2026Select Board conducts budget and capital hearings.
Select Board reviews language of its own ATM articles.
February, 2026Planning Board public hearing on zoning articles (date scheduled by Planning Board, Zoning Bylaw §210-153; MGL c.40A §5.
February 13, 2026Draft ATM Warrant to Town Counsel
Feb.16 – 20 School Vacation
February 24, 2026Select Board budget and capital hearings.
Select Board finalizes language of its own ATM articles.
March, 2026Public Forum – General Bylaw articles submitted into Warrant, hosted by those proposing the General Bylaw articles. (optional)
March 3, 2026Select Board budget and capital hearings.
Select Board finalize language of its own ATM articles.
March 10, 2026Select Board adopts budget and capital and submits to Appropriation Committee.
March 10, 2026Draft ATM Warrant & Motions to Select Board for review.
Working session with Department Heads – Non-financial Warrant articles, as needed.
Select Board take positions on Warrant articles
March 30, 2026Last day to file nomination papers for town election (MGL c.53 § 7, 49 days prior to election).
April 7, 2026Select Board Review ATM Warrant & Motions
Select Board finalize ballot questions.
Select Board take positions on Warrant articles
April 14, 2026Select Board vote to sign ATM Warrant.
Select Board takes positions on Warrant articles. Select Board reviews draft Motions.
April 13, 2026Deadline for final written notice of any ballot questions to be submitted to the Town Clerk (35 days before annual town election, MGL c.54 § 42C).
April 14, 2026Appropriation Committee holds hearing and votes on budget and delivers required report by April 17. (At least 14 days before ATM, Charter § 7-2(b))
April 17, 2026Deadline for submission of powerpoint presentations for ATM. Send to the Moderator for approval.
April 18, 2026Appropriation Committee Report Due (At least 14 days before ATM, Charter § 7-2(b))
April , 2026Moderator’s Meeting: Review of final motions and meeting process with Town Counsel, SB Chair, Moderator, Appropriation Committee Chair, Town Manager, Principal Planner/Planning Board Chair, School Committee Chair, School Superintendent, CFO, Town Clerk, Asst. Town Manager, Deputy Moderator.
April 18, 2026Warrant and Motions Document completed.
April 18, 2026All Town Meeting Reports/Handouts/Q&A’s Are Published and Available to the Public. (Annual Town Report 14 days before ATM, Charter § 3-1(f))
April 20-24 School Vacation
April 21, 2026Select Board to discuss its town meeting presentations.
April 22, 2026Last day to register to vote for the Annual Town Meeting and Annual Town Election (10 days before Town Meeting/Election M.G.L. c. 51 § 1F).
April 24, 2026Combined Election and Warrant posted at least 8 days before ATM (Bylaws § 47-1; MGL c.39 §§ 9A, 10).
May 2, 2026Annual Town Meeting
May 18, 2026Annual Town Election (3rd Monday in May, Bylaws § 47-2)
Author:
Filed Under: FY27 Budget, Town Meeting 2026