NORTHFIELD — Residents will have much to consider at this year’s Annual Town Meeting, with topics ranging from approving a total $12.2 million fiscal year 2026 budget to implementing a short-term rental tax.

Voters will be asked to weigh in on the 35 articles on the warrant on Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at Pioneer Valley Regional School, located at 97 F. Sumner Turner Drive.

Articles 4, 5, 7 and 9 address the total $12.2 million budget, which includes an 8.6% increase the operating budget. The budget includes nearly $1.05 million for general government, $804,960 for public safety, nearly $1.53 million for public works, $177,280 for health and human services, $361,944 for culture and recreation, and $910,940 for insurance and retirement benefits.

For FY26, Northfield’s education budget is more than $5.67 million, a 3% increase from FY25. This includes $25,000 for Northfield Elementary School maintenance, $935 for School Committee stipends, nearly $4.74 million for the Pioneer Valley Regional School District assessment, $901,171 for the Franklin County Technical School assessment and $11,467 for Franklin Tech capital expenses.

The Finance Committee voted against Article 5 (the education expenses), and the Selectboard’s vote included one vote in favor, one vote against and three abstentions.

Most of the EMS budget of nearly $1.14 million is paid through user fees, but $102,778 is set to be covered by the town tax levy.

The EMS budget represents a 38% increase from FY25. Northfield EMS Chief Matt Wolkenbreit said the increases cover the operational changes made to the department in the past year, such as having the chief’s position be full-time and ensuring paramedics are available 24/7.

“This year represents the biggest change Northfield EMS has ever seen. There’s been a lot of changes, both in the way emergency medical services have been delivered around the country and also the cost of doing business,” Wolkenbreit explained to attendees at a pre-Town Meeting forum held April 22. “The budget was developed to the best of our ability to be as fiscally responsible, but also show you the true cost of EMS services.”

In addition to the town’s operational and education budgets, voters will be asked to approve capital expenses totaling nearly $1.15 million. If approved, the town will spend $230,000 to renovate the bathrooms at Town Hall to be compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines; $200,000 for a new plow and sand truck for the Highway Department; $15,000 for a mower safety barrier for the Highway Department; $50,000 for elementary school improvements, such as installing security cameras; and $150,000 to replace the electrical control panel at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

This also includes spending $500,000 to buy a new ambulance. Wolkenbreit said Northfield EMS has $518,000 in an account that the member towns pay into, and just needs voters to approve spending those funds. This could either be an outright purchase or a lease-to-own situation, but the town will need to order a new ambulance soon as there is a two-year wait time.

“It’s over a decade old at this point and its service life is pretty well extended,” Wolkenbreit said of the ambulance that will be replaced.

With Article 31, voters will consider if the town should implement a 6% tax on short-term rentals (hotels, motels, Airbnbs). Finance Committee member Gail Weiss said the tax would not have any impact on residents’ property bills; just visitors who book a stay.

“The owner of the property does not pay it; the lodger pays it. Many towns already have this at 6% and it raises close to $1 million in the Franklin County towns,” Weiss explained during the pre-Town Meeting forum. “It’s a way to bring revenue into the town without hitting up the taxpayers.”

Meanwhile, the Community Preservation Committee is recommending three projects be supported with Community Preservation Act funding. Articles 27, 28 and 29 ask for $14,000 to buy heat pumps for the Northfield History Museum, which will help protect historic materials from deteriorating due to humidity; $3,735 to cover legal costs and survey/easement costs for the potential purchase of the Hobo Falls Conservation Area; and $2,500 for gravestone restoration and cleaning at Northfield’s Center Cemetery.

Other articles include:

■Appropriating $50,000 for legal expenses due to appeals of decisions made by the Planning Board and Conservation Commission.

■Petitioning the state Legislature to override the mandatory retirement age for fire chiefs (65) to allow Fire Chief Floyd “Skip” Dunnell III to continue his work until August 2026, when he will be 73 years old.

■Authorizing the town to accept a gift from Nancy Ames of three parcels of land on Old Wendell Road.

■Changing the constable position from elected to appointed, contingent upon approval from voters at the 2026 town election.

To review the budget and the full 35-article warrant, visit northfieldma.gov/home/news/town-meeting-budget-information.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.