MONTAGUE — Residents will consider 31 articles during the Wednesday, May 7 Annual Town Meeting that will mark a “number of firsts” for Montague, according to Town Administrator Walter Ramsey.

Ramsey, who led a two-hour Zoom presentation and discussion of the 31 warrant articles last week, mentioned how the Wednesday date marks a transition from the norm, as Annual Town Meeting is typically held on Saturday. Additionally, some new and interim staff members will be participating.

Annual Town Meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at Turners Falls High School and Great Falls Middle School. A second date has been set for Wednesday, May 14, also at 6:30 p.m. at the school, in the event that the town cannot decide on all 31 articles this week.

In a high-level view of the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal, Ramsey explained that Montague is in a financially secure place, with $1 million in excess levy capacity. Department budgets involved largely level services amid a push by the Selectboard to “maintain infrastructure” while limiting extra services and staffing expansions.

“The Selectboard pretty early on called those back, realizing that we’re trying to provide a balanced budget for you all,” Ramsey said.

Other budget themes noted include employee heath insurance, which is increasing by 18% to $243,000, and capital budget requests that include sewer system maintenance and vehicle replacements.

The town is also considering the budget of future years while discussing FY26, given the shifting federal funding landscape, the anticipated increases in building costs, employee contract negotiations and the ongoing FirstLight Hydro Generating Co. tax valuation case impacting valuations from FY22 to FY24.

Articles 2 through 12 will pertain to the town’s FY26 operating budget of nearly $12.75 million, a 2.75% increase from the current fiscal year, and Articles 13 through 24 will relate to capital requests.

Meanwhile, the town’s assessment to Franklin County Technical School for FY26 is $841,660, a 0.5% increase from FY25, and the Gill-Montague Regional School District assessment is more than $12.66 million, a 4.3% increase compared to FY25’s figures.

Capital requests

The capital requests that voters will consider this year total nearly $4.77 million, including a $3 million sewer pipe and manhole rehabilitation.

A Department of Public Works request for vehicle replacements sparked discussion and recommendations. Articles 16 and 17 involve the proposed purchase of two dump trucks for the DPW: a 10-wheel truck that would replace a 2003 vehicle, and that would require $365,000 be transferred from free cash; and a smaller dump truck that would replace a 2002 dump truck by using $325,000 from the Capital Stabilization Fund.

These requests were both included on the town’s five-year capital plan, and come recommended by the Capital Improvements Committee.

Town Meeting member Jennifer Audley asked about the planning of the purchases. Capital Improvements Committee member Ariel Elan explained the current trucks are not only at the end of their mechanical usefulness, but that the intention to replace them has been known since the five-year Capital Improvement Plan was adopted in 2023.

After further discussion and input from DPW Director Sam Urkiel, Finance Committee member John Hanold said he believes these capital requests will be a “hot issue.” He recommended that department heads become familiar with the Capital Improvement Plan before Town Meeting.

“I think that’s an issue that will come up, so that’s sort of an early warning,” Hanold said, with Elan asking if parts of the plan could be provided during Town Meeting. Ramsey said he’d look into it.

FirstLight PILOT

Article 26, which seeks authorization for the Selectboard and Board of Assessors to negotiate a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement with FirstLight, took up a portion of the pre-Town Meeting information session.

Ramsey provided an overview to explain the history of FirstLight challenging its tax valuations in Montague and other towns, and detailed a pros and cons list of entering into a PILOT agreement. Ramsey said a PILOT agreement would be in place for 10 years and would carry the same rate each year.

“FirstLight owns a lot of land and a lot of assets in town,” Ramsey said, adding, “The PILOT would be able to agree on what we think that value is, and we’re confident that we’re going to be getting a lot closer to what we think it is than what they think it is.”

If Article 26 is approved, it would only authorize those negotiations to begin, and the terms of the PILOT would be fleshed out at a later date.

There was some skepticism expressed over the ability for FirstLight and the town to reach an agreement, and the leverage the town would have in negotiations.

To view the full 31-article warrant, visit montague-ma.gov/files/ATM_Warrant_-_Signed.pdf.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.