03/19/2026
Please see the attached Press Release from Town Administrator Theresa Cofske.
To: Residents of West Brookfield
From: West Brookfield Town Administrator, Theresa A. Cofske
Date: 3/18/2026
Subject: Upcoming Proposition 2 ½ Override - Ballot Question and Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article
The Board of Selectmen, Advisory Committee and West Brookfield’s Financial Team held public meetings on November 12, 2025, December 4th, 2025, and January 5, 2026, to discuss the financial projections pertaining to the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget. What became apparent was that the Town continues to have an increasing structural financial gap caused by revenues vs expenditures. In the past the town has used one-time revenues to fill the gap (not a recommended practice) to go into town meeting with a “balanced” budget. However, as was forewarned by the Advisory Committee and the Town’s Financial Consultant for the last six or seven years, supplementing the budget this way would prove to be unsustainable as those one-time revenues would be depleted over time, which has led to the decision to propose an override. The amount of the override being proposed is $1,150,000. This amount covers the $863,000 budget gap for FY2027, and the remaining $280,000 addresses the FY2028 budget gap.
We will be providing information through public information forums, printed materials, departmental budget presentations, town’s cable access television channel and the town’s website. We will be holding several public informational forums over the next month. The purpose is to provide you with factual information over the course of these meetings that will include but is not limited to the following:
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Explanation of Proposition 2 ½
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Explanation of how the Town’s financial situation changed over the years
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Explanation of why the Town/School can’t operate within the existing 2.5% increase provided by Proposition 2 ½
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Fact driven financial and comparison data
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Estimated annual tax impacts
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What do the two scenarios (override passes or override fails) provide or reduce
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Identify/explain long-term financial plans
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Spending measures implemented
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Revenue sources being explored
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Capital projects coming forward, the expected costs and how they will be funded
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Exemptions/abatements for seniors, veterans or low-income residents
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Questions and answers
The materials prepared and presented to the residents of West Brookfield are meant to provide unbiased, fact‑based information. The sole intent is to provide you with information to necessitate an informed decision that you are comfortable with.
We expect the presentations to last up to an hour, followed by a question‑and‑answer session.
If you were unable to ask questions during the forums, you may email those to [email protected]. We will post the questions and answers, along with any updates or additional information. These can be accessed on the Town Administrator’s page of the Town’s website www.wbrookfield.com.
If you were unable to ask questions during the forums, you may email them to [email protected]. We will post the questions and answers, along with any updates or additional information. These can be accessed on the Town Administrator’s page of the Town’s website at www.wbrookfield.com.
Public Information Forums Schedule:
Wednesday April 1, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Elementary School, 89 North Main Street, West Brookfield
Monday April 13, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Senior Center, 73 Center Street, West Brookfield
Monday April 27, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Elementary School, 89 North Main Street, West Brookfield
Voting Schedule:
Local Town Election will have the override ballot question to be considered on May 5, 2026. Election will be held at the Senior Center, 73 Center Street, West Brookfield from 8:00 AM to 8:00PM. The ballot question will require a majority (over 50%) to vote in its favor to pass.
Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for June 2, 2026, and will be held at the Elementary School, 89 North Main Street, West Brookfield at 6:30 PM. The override will require a majority (over 50%) of those present to vote in favor of its passage at Town Meeting.
Note: The override requires the passing of both Town Meeting as well as the General Election. If the Override fails, the budget to be presented at Annual Town Meeting will be a reduced budget.
Respectfully,
Theresa A. Cofske, Town Administrator
https://storage.googleapis.com/juniper-media-library/43/2026/03/Override%20Notice%20to%20Residents%20-%20Press%20Release%203.19.2026.pdf
