Finance Committee Chair Richard Simon revealed a potential fiscal breakthrough during Thursday’s meeting, identifying nearly $4 million in possible savings within the regional school district’s ledger that could scrap the need for a looming property tax override. Simon, who recently received the detailed general ledger for the FY26 budget, told the committee he found significant discrepancies in assumed costs for student transportation and benefits that had previously fueled a projected $3.2 million deficit. I've produced a preliminary report indicating a $4 million opportunity which could bring us back to a no-override situation, Simon said, noting that the school district is only now finalizing insurance and pension rates that came in much lower than original estimates. Nathan Ladley expressed skepticism regarding the late-breaking discovery, asking, Why didn't they find these savings? Simon attributed the shift to a cap on health insurance premiums and a lower-than-expected assessment from the Barnstable retirement group, which saved $1.5 million alone against the February budget proposal.

The news comes as a relief to a board that spent much of the evening reviewing lean FY27 proposals from public safety departments. The Yarmouth Police Department is currently grappling with a staffing crisis, with the Police Chief warning that the force could be 10% understaffed by this summer. The department is down three full-time positions and expects four more vacancies by July due to retirements in command-level roles. Despite these pressures, the Chief highlighted long-term savings of $800,000 over four years expected once the town transitions to a regional communication center in Barnstable by 2028. However, immediate operational concerns remain, particularly regarding the department's hybrid patrol cars. The Chief reported that the vehicles have been shutting off or losing power while officers are responding to calls. The hybrid cars are labor-intensive... From a safety and morale standpoint, we can't have that, the Chief stated, adding that the department is leaning back toward gas-powered vehicles for patrol duties.

Member Alyssa Mullin questioned the real-world impact of the staffing shortages, asking, What are the implications for the community if you are down four positions? The Chief responded that while the impact is currently minimal due to shifting personnel and using overtime, the loss of institutional knowledge from retiring sergeants and detectives is a tremendous drain. Robert Harding raised concerns about the growing complexity of crime, asking if there is federal or state money for cybersecurity and scamming. The Chief noted that while no specific grants exist for scams, the department is using education and outreach at the Senior Center to protect residents from increasingly sophisticated romance and crypto scams.

The Yarmouth Fire Department faces similar staffing and infrastructure hurdles. The Fire Chief described the current station conditions as terrible, noting, I freeze in my office every day. The department plans to ask the Spring Town Meeting for funds to conduct a feasibility study for a new station. Like the police, the fire department is dealing with high turnover, with a third of the force nearing retirement. To manage rising call volumes—which increased by 10% this year—the department has moved to a consolidated software package to automate overtime hiring. The Chief also mentioned the possibility of implementing a lift assist fee for private facilities to help recoup costs from frequent non-emergency calls. Chair Simon remarked on the department’s recent ice rescue efforts, stating it shows how critical the training for dive teams and first responders is.

In other business, the committee briefly reviewed the status of the Middle Under-Used Land (MUK) Committee. Rafael Gutierrez asked for an update on upcoming deliberations, prompting John Anderson to announce a public meeting scheduled for next Wednesday. Anderson noted the committee will present three main variations of land use, including the school option and solar options, and is seeking community feedback on the five total versions submitted to the Select Board. The Finance Committee also handled routine administrative business, including the approval of previous meeting records. Motion Made by J. Anderson to approve the minutes of February 11th, 2026 as printed in the packet. Motion Passed (6-0-0). Chair Simon also noted that both he and Finance Director Jennifer would recuse themselves from upcoming votes regarding the library project due to their direct involvement with the building committee.