Shrewsbury Finance Committee Reviews $169 Million Budget in Day-Long Public Hearing

SHREWSBURY -- March 21, 2026, Shrewsbury's Finance Committee spent a full Saturday reviewing the town's proposed $169 million fiscal year 2027 municipal budget, with the Department of Public Works, Police, Fire, and other departments presenting ahead of the May 18 annual town meeting. Director of Public Works Tim McInerney told the committee the town's pavement condition index has fallen to 53 out of 100, well below the target of 80, and that Chapter 90 road funds of approximately $900,000 per year are "simply not enough" to reverse the decline. Water and Sewer Superintendent Timothy Moroney reported the town is losing an estimated 1.4 million gallons of treated water daily, representing roughly 38 percent of total production against an industry-acceptable standard of 10 percent, with a $3 million meter replacement program underway to address the problem. Police Chief Kevin Anderson cited a 15 percent increase in calls for service since 2021, now exceeding 48,000 annually, and a staffing ratio of 1.54 officers per thousand residents against a national average of 2.46, requesting the creation of a captain's rank to address a leadership gap. Solid Waste and Recycling Program Manager Ngocia Stolarska confirmed the town has been awarded a $2.7 million EPA grant to establish a town-operated recycling center and food waste curbside program, though the town cannot draw funds until October 2026 and a full cost-benefit analysis is still in progress. The committee's next public hearings are April 9 and April 16, both at 6 p.m.