A Discussion and Review of the Upcoming Winchendon Town Meeting May 18th
The Chair Man and the Chair Lady discuss the upcoming Winchendon Town Meeting to be held on May 18, 2026. Listen on any device. CLICK PLAY.
The Town of Winchendon’s Annual Town Meeting, scheduled for May 18, 2026, encompasses 29 articles addressing the fiscal year 2027 (FY27) budget, significant capital infrastructure projects, and administrative authorizations.
The primary financial highlights include a General Government operating budget of $20,770,350 and a School Department budget of $18,667,547. A critical focus of this warrant is the proposed replacement of roofs at three major educational facilities—Murdock Middle/High School, Memorial Elementary, and Toy Town Elementary—with a combined estimated cost exceeding $27.8 million, largely funded through debt exclusion and potential Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) grants which may pay for about 70 percent of the cost.
Other significant items include a $500,000 appropriation for a new ambulance, the utilization of Free Cash to address FY26 deficits (specifically $400,000 for snow and ice), and two citizen petitions aimed at tax reduction and stricter property-based code enforcement.