Finance Panel Backs $5.5 Million Override

Finance Committee · Meeting of April 8, 2026

HOLDEN — The Holden Finance Committee voted unanimously to recommend residents approve a $5.5 million Proposition 2 1/2 override at the May 11 town election. The Board of Selectmen had raised the override from $4.9 million to $5.5 million this week, mainly to cover an estimated $504,000 renovation of the old police station so employees can be moved out of the structurally failing Starbird Building, Assistant Director of Capital Projects Ryan Joste told the panel, saying "our goal is obviously safety first, both for our employees and the public." Joste said the building's basement jacks are of unknown age and crews have cleared snow from its roof each winter to prevent collapse. Separately, Water and Sewer Superintendent Joseph Kenny confirmed the town received a $10 million sewer-billing settlement payment last week, which Town Manager Peter said cannot legally offset the general fund.

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• Holden's community access TV: Finance Committee meeting, April 8, 2026
• The complete report: 745 words

Source: the Finance Committee meeting of April 8, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.