FY27 Budget Town Manager Directive

FY27 Town Manager Budget Directive

The FY27 Town Manager Budget Directive outlines the formal instructions issued by the Town Manager to municipal departments for preparing the Town of Great Barrington’s FY27 operating and capital budget. This directive establishes how departmental budget requests must be developed, justified, and submitted as part of the annual budget process.

While the Budget & Financial Policy sets the overall framework adopted by the Select Board and Finance Committee, the Town Manager’s Budget Directive translates that policy into specific expectations, standards, timelines, and submission requirements for Town departments.

What the Budget Directive Does

The Town Manager Budget Directive:

  • Sets clear expectations for operating budgets, staffing proposals, and capital requests

  • Establishes required deadlines aligned with the FY27 Budget Action Calendar

  • Defines narrative and documentation standards to ensure consistency and clarity

  • Requires departments to explain the purpose, need, and outcomes of budget requests

  • Reinforces fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability across all departments

This directive ensures that budget proposals are prepared in a way that allows elected officials and the public to understand how resources are being requested and why.

Emphasis on Explanation & Justification

For FY27, the directive places an increased emphasis on clear explanation and justification. Departments are required to go beyond listing costs and instead demonstrate:

  • What service need or operational issue is being addressed

  • How requests align with the Select Board’s FY26–27 Strategic Priorities

  • What outcomes or improvements residents can expect

  • How requests are funded and sustained over time

This approach strengthens decision-making and helps ensure that budget proposals reflect thoughtful planning rather than incremental growth.

Connection to Community Priorities

The directive requires departments to clearly align budget requests with the Select Board’s FY26–27 priorities, including:

  • Infrastructure & Assets

  • Public Health & Safety

  • Housing

  • Sustainability & Environment

  • Economic Development

  • Municipal Service Delivery

By requiring this alignment, the directive helps ensure that departmental requests support the broader goals established by the Town’s elected leadership.

Why This Matters to Residents

The Town Manager’s Budget Directive helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are requested and evaluated responsibly. It provides transparency into how the Town builds its budget and how departmental needs are reviewed before being presented to the Select Board, Finance Committee, and Town Meeting.

This directive supports:

  • Clear and consistent budget information

  • Better understanding of how public funds support services and infrastructure

  • Stronger accountability for how resources are requested and used

How the Directive Is Used

The Town Manager’s Budget Directive guides departmental submissions during the early stages of budget development. It informs internal review, joint budget presentations, public hearings, and the preparation of the annual Budget Book.

Please click here or the image below to view the FY27 Town Manager Budget Directive

FY27 TM Budget Directive

By making this directive publicly available, the Town provides insight into how financial decisions are shaped before they reach Town Meeting, reinforcing transparency and trust throughout the budget process.