Clinton Finance Committee Approves $13 Million Library Borrowing Over Two Dissenting Votes

CLINTON -- May 12, 2026, Clinton Finance Committee approves $13 million library borrowing article 3-2 and votes to disapprove a $1 million fire engine request. The panel worked through more than two dozen FY27 town meeting warrant articles at its May 12 meeting, approving a new $500,000 special education reserve fund drawn from free cash, a $250,000 out-of-district special education appropriation also from free cash, and a $1 million transfer to the infrastructure improvement stabilization fund for road resurfacing. The library vote followed extended debate in which the library director argued that a year of community focus groups and workshops supported the project and that the existing building would cost nearly $875,000 more to adapt than to replace; one dissenting member countered that the town has a poor track record managing vacant municipal properties and expressed doubt the cost differential had been fully examined. On the fire engine, Town Administrator Mike explained that custom-specification lead times now run three years from authorization to delivery, but the committee voted 5-1 to disapprove, sending the article to town meeting without a favorable recommendation. Six union retroactive pay articles covering police, fire, and other bargaining units were tabled pending final dollar amounts. The committee set a final budget vote and public hearing for Thursday, May 21, with approximately $3 million in free cash available to balance the $136,000 deficit and fund the approved warrant articles.