Southwick Select Board Approves $14.5 Million Budget for May Town Meeting

SOUTHWICK -- April 27, 2026, Southwick Select Board and Finance Committee approve $14.5 million town budget for May 19 annual meeting. The two boards, meeting jointly Monday, voted unanimously on all general government spending categories, including public safety at $4,119,616, public works at $2,343,157, general government at $3,137,976, and debt, interest, and insurance at $3,744,475, along with enterprise budgets for sewer ($1,305,702), water ($1,536,650), and EMS ($1,566,702). The board set a 20-article annual town meeting warrant beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Southwick Regional High School, with a four-article special town meeting at 6:15 p.m. the same evening. Key articles include a $1,001,000 fire engine borrowing, a $15,381,890 regional school district budget, and a 0.75 percent meals tax question, which the board repositioned to Article 16, past the budget and school articles, acknowledging "it is going to be controversial." Police Chief Vanisher secured board approval for a fully funded state grant providing four fixed and two trailer-mounted speed feedback signs, with data reported to the state for one year.