Rec Cuts Loom, BVT Assessment Rises for Grafton

Finance Committee · Meeting of March 18, 2026

Grafton Finance Committee previews FY27 budgets with beach cuts and a bigger Blackstone Valley Tech bill riding on the town's override. Recreation Director Adam said a "reduction budget" would strip $104,000 in Silver Lake Beach staffing if the recently passed override falls short in year one, on top of likely fee hikes for the beach's roughly 20 seasonal staff. Superintendent-Director Steel told the committee Blackstone Valley Tech cut $1.5 million, including about eight staff positions, to hold its overall budget increase to 2.5 percent, still pushing Grafton's assessment up $31,882, or 1.93 percent, to $31,882 despite two fewer enrolled students.

Steel also outlined a new state-mandated lottery admissions system that sets Grafton's target enrollment at 184 students against a current 92, the widest gap of any of the district's 13 member towns. No formal votes were taken beyond a roll-call vote to adjourn.

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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of March 18, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.