Board of Selectmen sets FY27 budget-hearing parameters; departments present initial figures across 11 areas.

Board of Selectmen · Meeting of January 10, 2026

Blackstone selectmen conduct first budget hearing on FY27 spending. Chairman Keefe and the Board reviewed preliminary requests from eleven departments totaling more than $7.3 million in operating costs, with the Police Department ($2,379,156), Fire Department ($1,854,000 after correcting a duplicate position), and Library ($783,935) among the largest. The Fire Department proposed a pilot second ambulance staffed 12 hours daily using per diem paramedics, funded through ambulance receipts via warrant article.

Non-contractual salary increases for Town Clerk Tara Sullivan (9% to $75,000) and Collector/Treasurer Matthew Ryan (14% to $80,000) drew board scrutiny; both officials cited salary-study and professional-association data. Chairman Keefe established protocol requiring all Board member requests to department heads to flow through Town Administrator Chad Lovett, with responses shared among all selectmen. No votes were taken; the Board deferred final action pending Finance Committee vetting and Town Meeting scheduled for late May.

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Source: the Board of Selectmen meeting of January 10, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.