Milton residents facing rising costs received a significant reprieve this week as the Select Board voted unanimously to double property tax exemptions for the town’s most vulnerable populations. Adopting Option 3 of the state’s Hero Act, the Board authorized a 100 percent increase in exemptions for qualifying veterans, seniors, surviving spouses, and residents who are blind. Town Manager Nick Milano explained that the move Motion Made by R. Wells to adopt number three as outlined by the town administrator. Motion Passed 5-0. marks a concerted effort to provide relief as the town grapples with broader fiscal challenges.

The tax relief comes as the town’s projected FY2027 budget deficit has shrunk to approximately $1.049 million, down from an initial $1.5 million gap. Town Manager Milano reported that the improvement was fueled by a $440,000 increase in motor vehicle excise tax forecasts and higher-than-anticipated state aid. We feel comfortable at this time increasing our forecast for motor vehicle excise tax about $440,000 to $5 million. The town's financial position has improved since January, Milano told the Board. To further stabilize the schools, the administration proposed moving $500,000 in free cash into the Special Education Stabilization Fund, maintaining the town’s long-standing 69/31 revenue split between the school department and municipal operations.

Infrastructure took center stage as the Board threw its full support behind a $16 million plan to rehabilitate and expand the Atherton Street Fire Station. Brian Walsh, Chair of the Fire Station Building Committee, detailed a hybrid approach that preserves the historic 1901 stone structure while adding three modern, oversized bays. Should we try to save the building? Certainly, there are a lot of people in town that recognize the uniqueness and the character of that old structure, Walsh noted, adding that the committee reviewed six different options before settling on the $16 million path funded through retiring school debt. Motion Made by R. Wells to support this going forward and support this article for the annual town meeting. Motion Passed 5-0.

Fire Chief Christopher Madden underscored the dire need for the facility upgrades, citing the physical limitations of the current 125-year-old station. The doors are 10x10; the fire trucks are 9 feet 6 inches wide. It gives you a couple inches on each side, Madden said. He also emphasized that the new design includes critical decontamination areas and exhaust mitigation to reduce cancer risks for firefighters. Member Richard Wells viewed the project as a generational investment, stating, This project, as much as it is for us, is for the next hundred years. This is when you can be visionary to do something that’s going to live beyond anything that you’re going to have control of. When asked by Member John Driscoll if he was satisfied with the final design, Chief Madden confirmed the plan would allow for future equipment expansion.

Beyond the building, the Fire Department is facing operational hurdles. Chief Madden reported that the department handled over 4,000 incidents in 2025, but a new ladder truck approved four years ago remains stalled in a supply chain backlog. We have a date of September 2026 for the tower ladder approved in June of 2020, the Chief said. To address administrative gaps, Milano and Madden proposed adding an Assistant Chief and a new Lieutenant position for training and fire prevention to ensure better succession planning.

A debate emerged regarding the town's long-term financial strategy when Jay Fundling, Chair of the Warrant Committee, presented a proposal for a formal "withdrawal policy" for the Operating Budget Stabilization Fund. Fundling argued for a structured annual "cushion" to bridge the years between tax overrides, suggesting a new override might be necessary as soon as 2029. I think a 2030 override plan is not going to be prudent with the needs of this town, Fundling warned. However, the Board met the suggestion with caution. Member John Driscoll cited taxpayer fatigue, noting, I don't see the town wanting to do an override in three years. I've talked to a lot of people; they have beautiful houses and they have a lot of means, they just don't want to pay any more taxes. Member Wells added that the legal authority to schedule overrides rests solely with the Select Board, expressing reluctance to commit to a multi-year schedule today.

The Board also moved forward on major school and environmental initiatives. A formal feasibility study agreement with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) was approved for the Cunningham Collicott project, which includes a new K-5 building and a middle school expansion. Milano noted the town has secured a 44.68% reimbursement rate for the study. Motion Made by R. Wells to approve the feasibility study agreement with the MSBA and authorize the chair to execute the agreement. Motion Passed 5-0. Additionally, the Board authorized four articles for the May Town Meeting to allow solar installations at the Library, Animal Shelter, and Fire Headquarters. Motion Made by R. Wells to approve the solar articles as outlined by the town administrator. Motion Passed 5-0.

In other business, the Board allocated $7,500 to help fund a $22,000 update to the town’s Housing Production Plan, which expired last month. Motion Made by M. Haggerty to approve $7,500 from the select board budget to fund the housing production plan. Motion Passed 5-0. Member Meghan Haggerty was also appointed as the Board's representative to the Master Plan Committee. Motion Made by R. Wells to appoint Meghan Haggerty to the Master Plan Committee for a one-year term. Motion Passed 4-0-1. Haggerty emphasized the need for modernizing town tools during the meeting, noting, What we have been trying to accomplish... is to look across the town government... to have a more strategic lens and to have a more of a rolling year-over-year lens. Vice Chair Winston Daley echoed the need for modernization, suggesting a future focus on upgrading the town’s budgeting and financial software. Chair Benjamin Zoll, seeing no residents come forward during the public comment period, noted, I will declare public comment closed since we have no speakers.