Town Meeting members approved Article 17, authorizing a $474,974 appropriation for health and sanitation for the 2027 fiscal year. The budget includes a new initiative to support growing families, though some representatives expressed concern regarding the town's long-term financial planning and reliance on level funding between tax overrides.

A representative from Precinct 2 voiced strong support for the health department's creative reallocation of funds to launch a parent-newborn support service program. The program will fund nurses to conduct home visits for new parents. This program will allow nurses to go into people's homes who have just had babies to make sure that they have the best possible start, the representative said, while noting that the current funding only covers four hours of service per week.

The discussion also touched on the broader fiscal challenges facing Milton, where expenses are currently projected to grow at 4.7% while revenues grow at only 3.1%. The Precinct 2 representative urged the Select Board to move away from a cycle of doing the same old same old and to engage in more strategic financial reimagining of community services.

Motion: That the town appropriate the amount shown in the following tabulation under the heading recommended FY27 as set forth in the warrant and that to meet said appropriation, the sum of $474,974 be raised from the tax levy.

Vote: Passed 179-1-0