Milton Warrant Committee Reelects Fundling Chair, Hears $4.25 Million Revenue Surplus

Finance Committee · Meeting of July 13, 2026

Milton Warrant Committee reseats with strong fiscal year 2026 surplus and a tight fall town meeting clock. Jay Fundling was unanimously reelected chair for his second and final year leading the committee, with Elaine Craighead elected secretary in a vote from which Fundling abstained. Town Administrator Nicholas Milano and Finance Director Amy Dexter reported that fiscal year 2026 closed with roughly $4.25 million in revenue above projections on a $145 million base, driven by excise taxes, a surge in license and permit fees — $770,000 of which came from just three large construction permits — and investment income.

A snow and ice deficit of approximately $1.49 million was resolved through a $277,000 reserve fund transfer, internal DPW vacancy savings, and transfers from several other departments. Dexter declined to disclose a free cash figure pending Department of Revenue certification expected in October. The committee faces an early-September deadline to finalize positions for a fall town meeting set for October 19, with anticipated articles including a fire station appropriation likely exceeding $10 million and a potential acquisition of the Laboree property as a future school site.

In the full story:

• Organizational Meeting and Officer Elections
• Chair's Vision and Committee Operating Philosophy
• Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Closeout — Revenue
• Fiscal Year 2026 Financial Closeout — Expenses and Year-End Transfers
• Free Cash and Forward Outlook
• Fall Town Meeting Timeline and Anticipated Articles
• The complete report — 2,333 words

Source: the Finance Committee meeting of July 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.