Budget & Taxes

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Town Reaches ‘Milestone’ in Move to State Insurance

October 7, 2026
Despite the absence of a Human Resources director, the town reached a “huge milestone” in its move toward joining the state Group Insurance Commission. “We had to submit to the state all eligible employees for health insurance,” Town Administrator Patrice Garvin told…
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Belmont Country Club Wins $337K Abatement

August 7, 2026
A “significant” property tax abatement has been granted to the Belmont Country Club, following a legal battle between the private organization and Belmont earlier this year. The result, according to court documents, is refunds owed to the Country Club on two of…

Town Reduces Yard Waste Pickups

July 7, 2026
Residents will see a reduction in yard waste pickup over the next several months, a change that reflect services cuts in the current fiscal year budget. Beginning this month and through October, yard waste pickup will be reduced to one week per…

Town Meeting OKs One-Time Payments Toward Educator Contracts

June 11, 2026
Town Meeting members approved $500,000 to make one-time payments to Belmont’s educators, putting the final touches on the contracts approved in May. “From the outset, the School Committee’s goal was to reach agreements that were fair to employees, good for students, and…

Budget Increases Driven By Health Insurance Costs

June 1, 2026
In the coming weeks, Town Meeting will be asked to consider the town’s $171.7 million operating budget, representing a $2.1 million, or 1.3%, increase over the current fiscal year budget. That $171.7 million funds schools, the municipal department, and shared services, among…
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Seeking Savings, Belmont Shifts Health Insurance

April 6, 2026
As health care costs rise nationwide, municipalities around the state are revisiting the question of whether to remain self-insured, or to switch to a state-run health insurance program for public employees that might help to cushion the financial blow. Belmont is no…

Grant for electric buses awarded to Belmont

March 10, 2026
Belmont received a $1.8 million grant from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MCEC) to help fund electric school buses, according to a release from MCEC. The grant is part of the fourth round of the state’s School Bus Deployment Program, an initiative…

Department Restructuring in Pipeline for FY27 Budget

March 9, 2026
The $35 million budgeted each fiscal year to support municipal services may see a roughly $100,000 increase in FY27 over the current fiscal year, as Town Administrator Patrice Garvin looks to restructure several municipal departments. “We’re able to do a lot with…

Consultant: Rink Rates Within Range With Other Towns

January 9, 2026
Though rink rental rates were “all across the board” in surrounding communities, an apples-to-apples comparison was all but impossible for a consultant hired by the town to assess the appropriateness of rates set by the Select Board. “We received a lot of…