City Council approves $213.8 million fiscal 2026 budget by 8-1 vote

MARLBOROUGH -- May 19, 2025, Marlborough council approves $213.8 million fiscal 2026 budget over school-cut objections. The City Council voted 8-1 Monday to adopt a $213,821,841 operating budget, a 9.15 percent increase, after the Finance Committee chaired by Councilor John J. Irish cut $1,481,005 from Mayor J. Christian Dumas's $215.3 million proposal. At-Large Councilor Mark A. Oram cast the dissenting vote, objecting to a $250,000 reduction in school funding. Finance Committee adjustments are projected to shave about $90 off the mayor's estimated $769 tax increase on the average single-family home. School Committee member Denise Ryan said teachers "have done more with less," while former councilor Paul Ferro called the 9.91 percent original increase unsustainable and urged the plan back to committee. The council also reappointed Stephen Kerrigan as city clerk through 2028 and approved a rodenticide ordinance.