Millis Finance Committee Recommends All 24 Town Meeting Articles for May Vote

MILLIS — April 15, 2026 — Millis Finance Committee clears all 24 town meeting warrant articles, 9-0, ahead of May 4 annual meeting. The committee, chaired by John Lohr, unanimously recommended every article on the May 2026 warrant at its April 15 session, including a $1,286,633 borrowing authorization for a water meter replacement program, a $684,935 capital projects article funded by free cash, and a $120,000 FEMA flood map appeal study for Route 109-area parcels. Finance Director Jody Kaczynski walked the committee through a general fund revenue picture of $48,637,090, noting that the House budget released the same day raised per-student aid to $160 but cut Unrestricted General Government Aid to under 1 percent, falling far short of the $350 million increase the Massachusetts Municipal Association had sought. Planning Board member Nicole Riley presented Article 17 as a first-step zoning measure to restrict battery energy storage systems and data storage centers to industrial zones — warning that without it, "the industry can go anywhere" under the state's new fast-track permitting process. Chair Lohr and member Jen Zaretsky announced they are stepping down at the end of their terms, with the committee set to elect new leadership at a post-town-meeting meeting in June.