Finance Committee backs six departmental budgets totaling $4.9M.
Finance Committee backs six departmental budgets totaling $4.9 million with unanimous votes. Chair Keith Schwegel and the committee approved Fire/Rescue at $11.8 million despite operating with $1 million in annual overtime absent additional authorized staffing; Consolidated Communications at $1.8
Finance Committee · Meeting of January 20, 2026
FALMOUTH — Finance Committee backs six departmental budgets totaling $4.9 million with unanimous votes. Chair Keith Schwegel and the committee approved Fire/Rescue at $11.8 million despite operating with $1 million in annual overtime absent additional authorized staffing; Consolidated Communications at $1.8 million, though Communications Center Administrator James Thomas reported minimal staffing of 16 to 17 positions is needed against current authorized 13 full-time staff; Health Department at $539,950; Town Clerk at $476,403; Elections at $165,000; and Town Manager at $1.01 million. The Town Manager budget drew scrutiny from committee member Peter Hargraves for its 12 percent salary increase when other departmental positions averaged seven to nine percent, a concern Deputy Town Manager Peter Johnson-Staub attributed to a post-fiscal-year compensation adjustment.
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Source: the Finance Committee meeting of January 20, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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